Christa Bancroft

Christa Bancroft serves as Associate Professor (Teaching) and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern California. She is a core faculty member of the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, instructing multiple undergraduate sections annually since 2020.

Her research focuses on:

• Microbiology
• Phage Genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Science
• Science Education

Dr. Bancroft specializes in integrating authentic research experiences for freshmen through bacteriophage discovery (Arthrobacter globiformis, Mycobacterium smegmatis) and genomic analysis. She teaches both laboratory-based phage discovery (2 meetings/week) and bioinformatics (1 meeting/week) components across 3-4 sections yearly, typically instructing 16 students per section with emphasis on first-year undergraduates.

As Director of Undergraduate Studies, she oversees curriculum development while collaborating with faculty including Raffaella Ghittoni and Rory Spence. Her work is sustained through HHMI funding supporting the SEA-PHAGES initiative's nationwide network of undergraduate research experiences.