Cristina Hansen

Dr. Cristina Hansen (DVM, Ph.D.) is an Assistant Professor of Physiology at the University of Alaska's College of Veterinary Medicine. Her research combines veterinary physiology with bacterial disease surveillance in wildlife, focusing on disease transmission between sled dogs and peri-domestic wildlife. She teaches first-year veterinary physiology and histology courses, bacteriology, and a biennial undergraduate wildlife disease course, while offering externships for advanced veterinary students working with racing sled dogs.

Research Interests:

• Development of novel methods for bacterial disease detection in wildlife
• Sled dog physiology and health monitoring during endurance races
• Zoonotic disease transmission dynamics in Arctic ecosystems
• Mitochondrial physiology and stress responses in Arctic animals

Publications Trends: Recent research explores mitochondrial dysfunction in sled dogs under thermal stress, metabolomic profiles during endurance racing, and microbial ecology in Arctic wildlife. Earlier work characterizes novel bacterial species from avian eggs and investigates microbial associations with embryo mortality.

Teaching: Instructs foundational veterinary courses and offers field-based externships for students working with racing sled dogs.

Personal: Engages in ice hockey, skiing, knitting, gardening, fishing, and cooking while maintaining a working relationship with retired sled dogs.