معرفی
Kelli Palmer is a Professor of Biological Sciences and holds the Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD). She is affiliated with the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, leading research on antibiotic resistance mechanisms in pathogenic bacteria. Her work focuses on CRISPR-Cas systems, bacterial outer membrane dynamics, and plasmid-mediated resistance spread. Palmer has received significant recognition, including the 2017 Outstanding NS&M Teacher Award and a $2.46M NIH grant for lipid-based research in Streptococcus mitis.
Education:
- Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin (2008)
- B.S. in Microbiology, University of Oklahoma (2003)
- Postdoctoral Fellow in Ophthalmology, Microbiology, and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School (2012)
Research Interests: Her lab explores three core areas:
- Horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes via mobile genetic elements
- Role of CRISPR-Cas systems in human microbiome resistance defense
- Bacterial outer surface remodeling under host immune pressure
Grants & Awards:
- 2021: $2.46M NIH R01 (GM138543) for lipid metabolism research
- 2017: Outstanding Teacher Award (NS&M)
Key Contributions: Developed CRISPR-based antimicrobials to block antibiotic resistance spread, discovered glycolipid roles in bacterial virulence, and identified novel lipid-specific enzymes. Her work bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical antibiotic development strategies.
