Lisa A Waidner

Lisa A Waidner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of West Florida, specializing in microbiology and biogeochemistry. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography from the University of Delaware, an M.S. in Applied Molecular Biology from the University of Maryland, and a B.S. in Biological Sciences from UMBC. Prior to her academic career, she worked in biotechnology industries focusing on genetic engineering and directed evolution for bioenergy applications.

• Ph.D., Biological Oceanography, University of Delaware
• M.S., Applied Molecular Biology, University of Maryland
• B.S., Biological Sciences, UMBC

Her research integrates molecular biology and environmental science to address critical issues in coastal ecosystems. Key areas include:

• Directed Evolution Applications: Engineering algal hydrogenases to enhance biofuel production through sequence modeling and electrostatic potential analysis.
• Vibrio Pathogen Ecology: Developing molecular tools for enumerating Vibrio vulnificus and parahaemolyticus in subtropical estuaries, with emphasis on environmental drivers like salinity and temperature.
• Bioremediation: Investigating microbial degradation pathways for pollutants such as dichloronitrobenzene and insensitive munitions compounds.
• Artificial Reef Biogeochemistry: Studying oxygen and nutrient fluxes, epifaunal community impacts, and nitrogen cycling on deployed reefs.

Recent publications highlight her interdisciplinary approach, combining bioinformatics, proteomics, and ecological modeling to analyze microbial responses to crude oil photoreactivity, dispersants, and environmental stressors. Her work has direct applications in coastal water quality management and bioremediation strategies.

Dr. Waidner actively participates in academic and SBIR grant proposal writing, contributing to applied research initiatives. She is affiliated with the Center for Environmental Diagnostics and Bioremediation and the Hal Marcus College of Science and Engineering at UWF.