Marcia R. Lee

Marcia R. Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Miami University, where she also serves as Director of Medical Laboratory Science. She is based in Pearson Hall and holds a D.V.M. from the University of Minnesota (1980). Her academic work bridges microbiology, medical laboratory science, and entomological applications of microbial physiology.

Research Interests: Dr. Lee's research focuses on the use of ice-nucleating active (INA) bacteria and fungi to manipulate insect cold tolerance, particularly in freeze-intolerant pests like the Colorado potato beetle. She investigates how INA microbes reduce supercooling capacity, thereby decreasing insect survival in cold environments. Additionally, her lab studies the differential effects of antifungal agents on pathogenic fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium oxysporum, and Candida albicans, with an emphasis on inhibiting hyphal growth and conidial germination using microtiter assays, flow cytometry, and fluorescent microscopy.

Publication Trends: Her recent work demonstrates a consistent focus on microbial ecology, fungal biology, and biological pest control. The publications reflect interdisciplinary research combining microbiology, entomology, and environmental physiology, with applications in agriculture and clinical microbiology.

Scientific Contributions:

• Published in journals such as Current Microbiology, Biological Control, CryoLetters, and Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata.
• Presented at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC).

Advising and Grants: While specific students or grant funding are not listed in the text, her research program implies involvement in mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers through laboratory projects and collaborative studies. Her work likely involves external or institutional support given the technical nature of the methodologies employed.

Laboratory and Research Team: Dr. Lee leads a research laboratory focused on microbial applications in biological control and antifungal testing. Her team has collaborated with researchers such as R.E. Lee, L.A. Castrillo, and J.A. Wyman, indicating an active, collaborative research environment centered on microbial-entomological interactions.