معرفی
Dr. Katrina Twing is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Weber State University (WSU), within the College of Science. She holds a Ph.D. from Michigan State University, an M.S. from the University of Delaware, and a B.A. from Clark University. Her research focuses on understanding microbial interactions in extreme environments, particularly hydrothermal vents, serpentinizing systems, and high pH ecosystems. She employs next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics to study microbial ecology and environmental adaptations.
Dr. Twing’s teaching philosophy emphasizes active learning and research mentorship, guiding students toward recognizing the excitement of scientific discovery. She teaches courses such as MICR 1113 (Intro to Microbiology), MICR 1153 (Public Health), MICR 3154 (Microbial Ecology), and MICR 3753/GEO 3753 (Geomicrobiology). Her lab, the Twing Environmental Microbiology Lab, explores projects like 'Rock-Powered Life' (microbial utilization of water-rock reactions) and antibiotic resistance in local Utah soils. She collaborates on studies of high-pH hydrothermal vents (e.g., Lost City and Strýtan) to understand early Earth life origins.
Her research has been published in journals like Frontiers in Microbiology, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, and Scientific Drilling. She advises undergraduate researchers at WSU and contributes to interdisciplinary environmental science initiatives. Her work bridges geology, microbiology, and bioinformatics to address global challenges like antimicrobial resistance and environmental contamination.
