Dane Bowder

Dane Bowder is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Doane University, actively leading the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since 2017. He teaches undergraduate courses across phage discovery, genome annotation, and publication workflows, primarily serving freshmen and sophomores through hands-on research integration.

His research focuses on bacteriophage isolation and genomic analysis using Gordonia terrae and Mycobacterium smegmatis hosts, bridging experimental microbiology with computational genomics. This work emphasizes authentic undergraduate research experiences in phage evolution, genome annotation, and scientific publication processes within the national SEA-PHAGES network.

Professor Bowder has instructed 14+ course sections (BIO 110, 220, 271, 371) between Fall 2017 and Spring 2025, typically enrolling 10-20 students per section with 2-4 weekly laboratory hours. He frequently collaborates with Dr. Erin Doyle, directing over 200 undergraduates in phage discovery projects that contribute to public databases like PhagesDB. His curriculum progression—from wet-lab phage isolation to bioinformatics annotation and manuscript writing—fosters technical skills in microbial genetics and genomic analysis.

As part of HHMI's national initiative, his program secures resources for sequencing, bioinformatics tools, and student participation in symposia. The structured pedagogy enables students to co-author genome announcements and present findings, transforming introductory biology into publishable research experiences without formal graduate advising roles.