Jennifer Easterwood

Dr. Jennifer Easterwood is an Associate Professor in the Biology & Chemistry Department at Queens University, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. She has been a faculty member for nearly 18 years, teaching foundational courses such as Foundations of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Genetics, and an online outbreak course in the general education curriculum.

Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the Medical University of South Carolina and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Presbyterian College.

Dr. Easterwood's research is centered on undergraduate engagement in authentic scientific discovery. Her two primary research initiatives include a collaboration with the Carolina Raptor Center (CRC), where students use molecular biology techniques to determine the gender of raptors, and her leadership in the SEA-PHAGES program. This national, discovery-based curriculum allows students to isolate novel bacteriophages from soil samples, characterize their genomes, and publish their findings in GenBank—with all participating students listed as co-authors. This approach integrates research directly into coursework, promoting hands-on learning in microbiology, genomics, and bioinformatics.

The SEA-PHAGES program demonstrates a strong trend in science education innovation, combining virology, genetic sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis in an accessible undergraduate framework. Her work emphasizes student authorship and scientific contribution at the undergraduate level.

• Collaborative research with the Carolina Raptor Center
• Lead instructor for the SEA-PHAGES program at Queens

Dr. Easterwood advises undergraduate researchers through course-embedded projects, particularly in the SEA-PHAGES and capstone research courses. While formal graduate students or named advisees are not listed, her mentorship is integral to student research output and publication in national databases. There is no mention of external grants, but her participation in the SEA-PHAGES program suggests affiliation with HHMI-supported initiatives.

Her work is conducted within the teaching and research laboratories of the Biology & Chemistry Department, supporting student-driven projects in molecular biology and genomics.