Fred Baliraine

Fred Baliraine is a Professor in the Department of Biology & Kinesiology at LeTourneau University. Since 2015, he has been an active participant in the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, teaching laboratory courses focused on bacteriophage discovery and genomics. He serves as primary instructor for multiple sections of BIOL1111 (General Biology I lab) and BIOL1121 (General Biology II lab), guiding undergraduate students in hands-on research using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a host organism across terms through Fall 2025.

His research integrates bacteriophage biology with undergraduate education, emphasizing authentic discovery experiences in microbial ecology and evolution. Through SEA-PHAGES, students isolate novel phages and analyze genomic data, contributing to broader understanding of viral diversity. Dr. Baliraine's work bridges laboratory microbiology with computational genomics, preparing students for careers in biomedical research through structured in situ (wet lab) and in silico (bioinformatics) approaches.

Dr. Baliraine has supervised over 200 undergraduate researchers since 2015 across 20+ course sections, predominantly teaching freshmen and sophomores in phage discovery projects. He collaborates closely with Greg Frederick (Department Chair) and Josh McLoud within LeTourneau's SEA-PHAGES team, supported by Howard Hughes Medical Institute funding. The program provides early research immersion, with students characterizing phage morphology, host range, and genomic features using standardized national protocols.