Michele Maltz-Matyschsyk

Michele Maltz-Matyschsyk serves as an Additional Instructor for the Virus Hunters, MCB 1200 course in the SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) program at the University of Connecticut during the Fall 2025 semester. This HHMI-funded national initiative integrates hands-on phage discovery into undergraduate curriculum, with Maltz-Matyschsyk co-instructing alongside Carol Teschke in a laboratory-intensive format.

Her research spans critical biological domains including:

• Microbiology
• Virology
• Genomics
• Evolutionary Science

The Fall 2025 section involves 9 students (1 freshman, 3 sophomores, 3 juniors, 1 senior) conducting 8 weekly hours of phage isolation using Arthrobacter globiformis as host bacterium, reflecting the program's emphasis on authentic research experiences. As part of SEA-PHAGES, Maltz-Matyschsyk contributes to a national network connecting over 100 institutions through genomic analysis pipelines and collaborative frameworks like the annual SEA Symposium.

This HHMI-supported program provides students pathways to present findings at scientific conferences and contribute to genomic databases, with Maltz-Matyschsyk's role highlighting her commitment to innovative undergraduate science education and mentorship in emerging research methodologies.