Elizabeth Danka

Elizabeth Danka is an Assistant Professor of Biology at St. Norbert College, where she has been teaching since Fall 2020. She holds a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish from the University of Richmond, a Ph.D. in Molecular Cell Biology from Washington University in St. Louis, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship as a SPIRE Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her academic role includes teaching courses such as introductory biology, microbiology, medical microbiology, and cellular physiology, emphasizing active learning and critical thinking development.

Her research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, particularly studying host-pathogen interactions in organisms like Burkholderia cepacia and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Techniques employed include molecular genetics, biochemistry, microscopy, and model systems like plants, cell cultures, and mice. Current projects explore virulence factors in B. cepacia and the role of outer membrane proteins in UPEC infections.

Dr. Danka mentors students in her lab, providing hands-on research training and encouraging participation in scientific conferences. Her work bridges microbiology, immunology, and molecular biology, with applications in understanding disease mechanisms and improving diagnostic strategies.