معرفی
Sharon Stranford is Professor of Biology at Pomona College and serves as the Inaugural Faculty Co-Director of the Institute for Inclusive Excellence (2023–2025). She has been a faculty member since 2013 and is currently on leave for the 2025–2026 academic year. Her office and lab are located in Seaver Biology, and she can be reached at sharon.stranford@pomona.edu.
Education:
- Ph.D., Drexel University
- Bachelor of Arts, Arcadia University
Dr. Stranford is a biologist specializing in immunology and infectious diseases, with a focus on retroviral infections such as AIDS. Her research investigates the immunologic factors that determine resistance or susceptibility to immune deficiency using the mouse model of AIDS (MAIDS). By comparing immune responses in MAIDS-susceptible and MAIDS-resistant mice after exposure to Murine Leukemia Virus (MuLV), her lab identifies key immune pathways that promote resolution versus disease progression. Techniques employed include comparative gene expression analysis, flow cytometry, ELISAs, and fluorescence microscopy. Her work bridges molecular immunology and systems-level immune responses.
Her recent publications and research grants reflect a sustained focus on immune gene expression, lymphoid organ structure, and antiviral responses. Themes across her publications include immune regulation in retroviral disease, tolerance mechanisms, and stromal contributions to lymphoid architecture. Her work has implications for understanding HIV pathogenesis and immune protection.
Scientific Awards and Grants:
- Four College Biomath Consortium (2011–2016), $1M for joint faculty-student projects
- NIH R15 Grant: MAIDS Resistance-Associated Gene Expression (2009–2012), $224,356
- Alden Trust Grant collaborator for Microscopy Equipment ($200,000, 2007–2008)
- NSF MRI Grant: Genomics Instrumentation at MHC (2005–2007), $186,375
- NIH R15: CD8+ Antiviral Responses to MuLV (2005–2009), $227,613
- NIH R15: CD8+ Antiviral Responses to MuLV (2001–2005), $153,332
- NIH Multisite Program Project: Pathogenesis of Acute HIV Infection (1997–2002), Co-Investigator, $800,000
Dr. Stranford has a strong record of mentoring undergraduate students in research, evident from her lab's collaborative publications. She has secured multiple competitive external grants as Principal Investigator, demonstrating leadership in research and infrastructure development. Her teaching includes Immunology and Immunology Lab, and she co-authored a major immunology textbook, contributing to science education nationally. Her leadership role in the Institute for Inclusive Excellence underscores her commitment to equity and inclusion in STEM.
Her lab, located in Seaver Biology 13, utilizes advanced molecular and immunological techniques to explore immune responses in retroviral disease models. She has fostered collaborations across institutions, including Mount Holyoke College and UCSF, and has contributed to national educational initiatives in biomathematics.
