Kristen Clermont

Kristen Clermont is an Assistant Professor in the Biology department at La Salle University, serving as primary instructor for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)-funded SEA-PHAGES program. She teaches both phage discovery (in situ) and genomic analysis (in silico) courses to undergraduate students.

Her research focuses on bacteriophage genomics and microbial evolution, utilizing bacterial hosts including Gordonia rubripertincta, Microbacterium foliorum, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. Through the SEA-PHAGES initiative, she integrates authentic research experiences into early undergraduate curricula, emphasizing hands-on phage isolation, sequencing, and bioinformatic annotation.

Current teaching responsibilities include BIO 205-01 (Fall 2024, 10 students), BIO 250-21 (Spring 2025, 19 students), and previous instruction of BIO 250-31 (Spring 2024). Her courses primarily serve freshmen and sophomores, reflecting commitment to foundational research education.

As an active SEA network member, she participates in national workshops including the Phage Genomics Workshop and SEA Symposium, contributing to collaborative development of phage discovery protocols and genomic databases.