Anthea Aikins

Dr. Anthea Aikins is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Delaware State University, part of the College of Mathematics, Natural Science and Technology. She holds a PhD in Microbiology with a minor in College Teaching from the University of Missouri and a B.S. (Honors) in Biology from Delaware State University. Her postdoctoral research was conducted at the New Jersey Medical School-University Hospital Cancer Center.

Her research focuses on microbiology, yeast genetics, and forensic microbiology, with notable contributions to genome sequencing of Caulobacter species and studies on antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. She has secured grant funding as PI of the NIH B2-CARS-SEPA Program and Co-PI for an NSF HBCU-UP Implementation Project. She also directs the DSU HBCU-UP TEAL Program and serves as key personnel in the NIH U-RISE DSU STAR Program.

Dr. Aikins is certified by Quality Matters (QM) for online course design and ACUE for effective teaching practices. Her teaching portfolio includes courses like Microbiology, Forensic Microbiology, and Human Diseases. She has received awards for teaching excellence, including the 2019-2020 DSU Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2018 Excellence in Faculty Teaching Award from CMNST.

Her scholarly work includes peer-reviewed publications on bacterial genome analysis and light-based antimicrobial strategies. She mentors students in research projects such as microbial decomposition studies, presented at venues like ABRCMS and DSU symposia.