Lisa D'Ambrosio

Lisa D'Ambrosio serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology at the University of Ottawa, actively contributing to the HHMI Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program. This national initiative integrates undergraduate education with authentic research in bacteriophage discovery and genomic analysis.

Her research spans phage genomics, bacterial genetics, and microbial evolution, with strong connections to immunology and bioinformatics through the SEA-PHAGES framework. The program immerses students in end-to-end scientific processes from phage isolation to genomic annotation, advancing viral evolutionary studies while building critical research skills.

Dr. D'Ambrosio participates in the SEA-PHAGES collaborative network funded by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, contributing to educational resources like the Phage Discovery Guide and Phage Genomics Guide. She engages in program development through workshops and symposia including the annual Phage Genomics Workshop and SEA Symposium.

Mentoring is central to her role, guiding students through phage characterization projects within the SEA framework. Her work supports a large-scale community science effort with institutional partners across North America, utilizing platforms like PhagesDB for data sharing and collaboration.