معرفی
Dr. Deborah E. Britt serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Rhode Island College, where she teaches advanced microbiology courses including Medical Microbiology (BIOL 429), Senior Seminar (BIOL 460), and Directed Research (BIOL 692). Her academic foundation includes a B.S. from Oregon State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Rhode Island.
- Education: B.S. (Oregon State University), Ph.D. (University of Rhode Island)
Her research focuses on discovering novel antibiotic-producing bacteria through the Small World Initiative, where undergraduate researchers isolate soil bacteria, test pathogen inhibition, and identify strains via PCR and DNA sequencing. Current work emphasizes antibiotic resistance profiling in environmental isolates and molecular mechanisms in cancer biology, particularly tight junction proteins and their roles in tumor progression. This dual focus bridges microbial ecology and molecular oncology.
Dr. Britt's publication record demonstrates sustained contributions to cancer biology (prostate/gastric cancers) and bacterial genetics since 1990. Her work on LYRIC/AEG-1 protein modulation in prostate tumors (2008) and claudin expression in gastric adenocarcinomas (2005) reveals expertise in molecular oncology, while earlier research on Myxococcus xanthus heat shock responses (1990) established her microbiology credentials.
She actively mentors undergraduate researchers through BIOL 491/492 independent studies, directing lab work on antibiotic discovery and resistance surveillance. Her Fogarty Life Science laboratory (Room 204) serves as the hub for the Small World Initiative at RIC, engaging students in hands-on genomic and phenotypic characterization of soil microbes.
