Marin Brewer

Marin Talbot Brewer is a Professor of Mycology and William Terrell Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). Her research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of emerging fungal threats to plants and humans, particularly the evolutionary processes driving population diversity, speciation, and pathogenicity. She leads the Brewer Mycology Lab, which employs population genetics, genomics, and molecular phylogenetics to study fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus and Colletotrichum species. Key areas include fungicide resistance evolution, host-pathogen interactions, and agricultural epidemiology.

Education:

• Ph.D., Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology, Cornell University (2011)
• M.S., Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Maine (2003)
• B.S., Biology, University of Cincinnati (1998)

Research emphasizes fungal evolution, population genomics, and the genetic mechanisms behind pathogenicity. Recent work highlights clonal expansion of multi-drug-resistant A. fumigatus, azole resistance dynamics, and host adaptation in plant pathogens. Her lab actively collaborates on USDA-funded projects addressing emerging cucurbit anthracnose epidemics.

Publications span fungal genomics, epidemiology, and antimicrobial resistance, with a focus on bridging agricultural and clinical mycology. She recruits graduate students and postdocs for studies on fungal population genomics and fungicide resistance.

Grants and advising: Current USDA-SCRI funding supports research on Colletotrichum species. Her lab oversees projects on pathogen surveillance, molecular diagnostics, and sustainable disease management strategies.

Labs/Teams: Brewer Mycology Lab, part of UGA’s Plant Pathology Department, specializes in fungal pathogen genomics and epidemiology. Collaborations involve USDA-ARS, academic institutions, and international networks.