معرفی
E. Fidelma Boyd is a Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Delaware. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of pathogens in the Vibrionaceae family, particularly their adaptability to high-salinity environments and interactions with hosts. Key areas include quorum sensing regulation, compatible solute metabolism, and genomic islands influencing pathogenesis.
She holds a B.S. and Ph.D. from the National University of Ireland (Galway), followed by postdoctoral training at Penn State, Harvard, and Tufts University. Her lab is located in Wolf Hall and investigates topics like sialic acid catabolism, nonulosonic acid synthesis, and the role of mobile genetic elements in bacterial evolution.
Current research projects include studying Vibrio coralliilyticus' osmotic stress responses, the role of genomic islands in Vibrio cholerae colonization, and the structural diversity of bacterial surface glycans. Her work bridges microbiology, genomics, and environmental science to understand bacterial survival strategies.
Students under her mentorship include Jessica Tague (quorum sensing in V. parahaemolyticus), Katherine Boas (compatible solute transporters), and Ray Loughan (coral pathogen survival mechanisms). The Boyd Lab collaborates on projects addressing Vibrio pathogenesis and marine microbial ecology.
