Liz Karr

Liz Karr is a Professor of Microbiology and Senior Associate Dean of the OU Graduate College and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at the University of Oklahoma. She leads the School of Biological Sciences and oversees graduate education and postdoctoral affairs. Her academic journey, as a first-generation scholar, spans unconventional paths from business aspirations to a Ph.D. in Microbiology. She earned her Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University and completed an NSF postdoc at Ohio State University.

Education:

• Ph.D., Microbiology, Southern Illinois University (2003)
• NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Ohio State University Microbiology (2003–2007)
• Bachelor of Science, Biology, Murray State University (1999)
• Associate in Science, Paducah Community College/Western Kentucky Tech (1997)

Research Interests: Dr. Karr’s work focuses on archaeal transcription regulation, microbial pathogenesis in Clostridium difficile, and structural biology. Her lab explores protein structures and metabolic pathways in extremophiles like Methanococcus maripaludis and Syntrophus aciditrophicus. She integrates bioinformatics and experimental techniques to study transcription factors and stress responses.

Outreach & Mentoring: A champion for first-generation and underrepresented students, Dr. Karr directs the NSF LSAMP program and advises junior faculty. She mentors high school students through the Moore Norman Technology Center biotechnology program, emphasizing career readiness in STEM. Her lab supports undergraduate researchers through honors projects and internships.

Lab & Affiliations: The Karr Lab is part of the Price Family Foundation Institute of Structural Biology. Current projects include studying two-component signaling systems in methanogens and structural analysis of transcription regulators.