Kevin Bilyk

Kevin Bilyk serves as an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Montclair State University, where he has led the SEA-PHAGES course (BIOL 113-11) for Spring 2021 and Spring 2022 semesters. This program, funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, engages undergraduate students in authentic bacteriophage genomics research through in silico bioinformatics analysis.

His academic focus centers on phage genomics and microbial evolution, with teaching activities emphasizing computational analysis of phage genomes using bacterial hosts including Arthrobacter sp. and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The curriculum trains students in genomic annotation techniques and evolutionary analysis within the HHMI Science Education Alliance framework.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards or fellowships documented in source material

Advising and Grants:

• Instructed 45 total students across two semesters (24 in Spring 2022: 17 freshmen, 3 sophomores, 2 juniors, 2 seniors; 21 in Spring 2021: 6 freshmen, 8 sophomores, 5 juniors, 2 seniors)
• No research grants or individual student mentorship details provided

Dr. Bilyk participates in the national SEA-PHAGES consortium, contributing to standardized phage genomics education through workshop attendance and course implementation. His institutional role remains strictly pedagogical within the biology curriculum, with no laboratory research team or independent projects described in the available documentation.