معرفی
Tejas Bouklas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the School of Health Professions and Nursing, Long Island University (LIU-Post). She holds a B.S. in Biology from Stony Brook University and earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences (Microbiology and Immunology) from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Stony Brook University's Department of Medicine (Division of Infectious Diseases) before joining LIU-Post in 2016.
- B.S., Biology, Stony Brook University, NY
- M.S. and Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences (Microbiology and Immunology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
Dr. Bouklas specializes in microbiology, infectious diseases, immunology, and antifungal resistance, with a focus on fungal pathogens such as Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida glabrata. Her research investigates how cellular aging and population heterogeneity influence fungal virulence, particularly in immunocompromised, diabetic, and elderly patients. She has established aging as a novel virulence factor in chronic fungal infections, contributing significantly to medical mycology and host-pathogen interaction studies.
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend in understanding replicative lifespan, stress resilience, and phenotypic variation in fungal pathogens. Articles in journals like PLoS Pathogens, mBio, and Frontiers in Microbiology highlight her work on aging in C. neoformans and C. glabrata, revealing how older fungal cells exhibit increased virulence and resistance. Earlier work also includes innovative research in vaccine development using nanofibrous materials for pertussis.
Dr. Bouklas has received numerous scientific awards and recognitions, including:
- Judge Travel Award, Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (2017)
- NIH Predoctoral Training Grant (2011–2014)
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Roll of Honor (2012)
- Sigma Xi Excellence in Research Award (2009)
- IBM Thomas J. Watson Memorial Scholarship (2005–2009)
- Presidential Scholar at Stony Brook University (2005–2009)
She has advised several students, many of whom have co-authored her publications, and has been active in promoting undergraduate research through initiatives like the ASM LINK Fellowship. Her work has been supported by prestigious training grants and disseminated through national and international conferences. Dr. Bouklas is also engaged in academic service, delivering lectures on active learning and fungal pathogenesis. She is a member of professional organizations including the American Society for Microbiology, Medical Mycological Society of the Americas, and Sigma Xi Honor Society.
