Rachel Larsen

Rachel Larsen, PhD, is a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Southern Maine (USM), within the College of Science, Technology, and Health. She joined USM in 2012 after postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois and Utah State University, and prior teaching/research roles at Bowdoin College and the University of California, San Diego.

Education: PhD and MS in Microbiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and a BA in Biology from Vassar College.

Research focuses on bacterial metabolism and microbial ecology, including interactions in natural environments. Her work explores antibiotic degradation by soil bacteria, microbial communities in kombucha, plastic biodegradation, aquaponics systems, and nitrogen cycling in salt marshes. She oversees student-led projects in these areas.

Teaching responsibilities include Microbiology for Health Sciences (BIO 281/282), Microbiology for Biology Majors (BIO 311), and Microbial Ecology (BIO 415/515, 416/516). She is based in Science Building room 477 (C wing) on the Portland campus.