Moriah L. Szpara

Moriah L. Szpara is a Professor of Biology and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Pennsylvania State University, where she holds dual appointments in both departments and is affiliated with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and the Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics. She leads the Szpara Laboratory, which focuses on neurovirology and viral genomics, particularly studying herpes simplex virus (HSV) interactions with neurons.

Dr. Szpara's research centers on viral genetic contributions to virulence, viral diversity in clinical settings, and molecular interactions between HSV and host neurons. Her lab employs a range of approaches from genomics and bioinformatics to neuronal cell culture models. Key research areas include viral variation and neurovirulence, neuronal consequences of HSV infection, and HSV latency in neurons. The lab has developed open-source software packages like VirAmp and VirGA for herpes virus genome assembly and comparison.

Dr. Szpara's publication record shows consistent high-impact research in herpesvirus genomics, with recent work focusing on viral diversity, transmission dynamics, and host-pathogen interactions. Her publications span virology, genomics, neurobiology, and infectious diseases, demonstrating interdisciplinary research that bridges computational and experimental approaches.

• Spear Colloquium Lecturer (2018)
• Priscilla Schaffer Memorial Award & Lectureship (2017)
• Daniel R. Tershak Memorial Teaching Award (2017)
• National Institutes of Health Research Scholar Development Award (K22; 2013)

Dr. Szpara actively mentors students at all levels, from undergraduates to graduate students. Her lab includes researchers like Mei-Ling Liber (graduate student) and Jessica Eckard (undergraduate), among others. She has received substantial funding for her research, including NIH awards, and her lab has produced multiple software tools that are widely used in the virology community. The Szpara Lab also organizes the Virology@PSU network and maintains strong clinical collaborations to study HSV in human patients.