Daniel Williams

Daniel Williams is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Coastal Carolina University, serving as a primary instructor for the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program since 2017. He teaches both laboratory-based phage discovery courses and computational bioinformatics sections across multiple academic terms.

His research centers on bacteriophage biology with specific expertise in:

• Isolation and characterization of phages using bacterial hosts including Mycobacterium smegmatis, Gordonia rubripertincta, and Microbacterium foliorum
• Genomic analysis of phage diversity through wet-lab and computational approaches
• Integration of authentic research experiences into undergraduate microbiology education
• Phylogenomic studies of bacteriophage evolution

Dr. Williams has instructed over 150 undergraduate students across 12+ course sections between 2017-2025, with enrollments ranging from 1-23 students per section. His teaching spans introductory phage discovery (BIOL 121L/302L) to advanced bioinformatics (BIOL 303/399), maintaining consistent involvement in the national SEA-PHAGES network through workshops and symposia.

As a core faculty member in CCU's SEA-PHAGES implementation, he collaborates with colleagues like Karoline Baldus and Megan Cevasco to advance phage genomics education, utilizing the program's standardized protocols for phage isolation, sequencing, and annotation while adapting to evolving curriculum guides.