Katelyn Walzer

Katelyn Walzer is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University's College of Science, where she leads groundbreaking research on apicomplexan parasites. Her work bridges molecular biology, genetics, and genomics to understand the complex life cycles of pathogens causing significant human diseases.

Dr. Walzer received her B.S. in Biological Sciences and English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011, followed by a Ph.D. in Genetics and Genomics from Duke University in 2018. She completed postdoctoral training in Molecular Parasitology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she pioneered the complete life cycle transcriptome of Cryptosporidium parvum through single-cell RNA sequencing of 9,098 individual parasites.

Her research focuses on the genetics and genomics of apicomplexan parasites, particularly Cryptosporidium parvum's unique single-host life cycle and programmed sexual development. The Walzer Lab investigates transcriptional regulation during parasite development, with emphasis on male gametogenesis and the factors controlling sexual reproduction. Dr. Walzer's most significant discovery is that the transcription factor Myb-M alone is necessary and sufficient to drive male fate in Cryptosporidium.

Analysis of Dr. Walzer's publication record reveals a consistent trajectory from studying Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum to her current focus on Cryptosporidium. Her work in high-impact journals demonstrates expertise in single-cell RNA sequencing, genetic manipulation, and fluorescence imaging to unravel parasite developmental mechanisms with direct implications for developing new therapeutics against cryptosporidiosis.

As principal investigator of the Walzer Lab at Clemson University, she directs research that addresses fundamental questions about parasite biology. Her team employs cutting-edge genomic and molecular approaches to characterize the machinery involved in male egress, motility, attachment, and fusion - processes essential for understanding how male parasites navigate the harsh gut environment to find and fertilize females.