Behnam Khatabi

Behnam Khatabi serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), actively engaged in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program. For Fall Semester 2025, he acts as Additional Instructor for the BIOL-111HONORS course—a hands-on phage discovery and microbiology program utilizing Arthrobacter globiformis as host bacterium with 5 freshman students meeting 3 times weekly (6 total hours).

His research centers on microbial genomics and evolutionary biology through bacteriophage exploration, directly integrating undergraduate students into authentic scientific discovery. This work spans phage isolation, genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis within the national SEA-PHAGES network, emphasizing experiential learning in microbiology and genomic sciences.

Dr. Khatabi participates in key program events including the 2025 Phage Genomics Workshop (December 12–16, 2025) and 2026 SEA Symposium (April 24–26, 2026), contributing to curriculum development through resources like the Phage Discovery Guide and Bioinformatics Guide. His instructional approach focuses on in situ laboratory techniques and genomic data interpretation for novice researchers.