Barb Katzenback

• Innate immunity of amphibians
• Regulation of innate immune cell development (macrophages, neutrophils) from progenitor cell populations
• Host-pathogen-environment interactions

Professor Katzenback's research interests are in examining how environmental stress influences the immune system, and health, of amphibians with the goal of understanding how these interactions are contributing to the worldwide decline of amphibians. To this end, her research aims are to 1) elucidate the mechanisms of amphibian innate immunity, 2) characterize host-pathogen interactions and 3) study how abiotic environmental stressors (i.e. climate change, contaminants), alone or in combination with biotic stressors (pathogens), impact innate immune function and the health status of amphibians.

The North American wood frog (Rana sylvatica), a unique group of terrestrial hibernators that survive whole body freezing during winter months, and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), a dehydration tolerant frog and well-studied model organism, are exciting models to analyze host-pathogen-environment interactions.

Current Research Themes in the Katzenback Lab:

1. Development of amphibian cell lines
2. Amphibian - Frog Virus 3 interactions
3. Regulation of innate immune defenses in response to environmental stressors

​If you are interested in pursuing graduate studies in the Katzenback lab, please contact me directly via email (barb.katzenback@uwaterloo.ca) with a brief statement of interest, CV and transcripts.

Please see Barb Katzenback's Google Scholar profile for a current list of publications.

• Outstanding Performance Award (2016)
• NSERC Banting Post Doctoral Fellowship (2014 – 2016)
• NSERC Post Doctoral Fellowship (2012 – 2014)
• Nominated for Canadian Society of Zoologists T. W. M. Cameron Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award, University of Alberta (2012)
• Faculty of Science Doctoral Dissertation Award, University of Alberta (2012)
• Andrew Stewart Memorial Graduate Award, University of Alberta (2011)
• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship –Doctoral (CGS-D) (2008 – 2011)
• President’s Doctoral Prize of Distinction, University of Alberta (2008 – 2011)
• Bill Samuel Graduate Student Service Award, University of Alberta (2010)
• Alberta Ingenuity PhD Scholarship, Alberta Ingenuity Fund (2008 – 2010)
• Alberta Learning Graduate Student Scholarship, Government of Alberta (2008)
• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Masters (CGS-M) (2007)
• Walter H. Johns Scholarship, University of Alberta (2007)

• Professional Associations: Canadian Society of Zoologists, International Society of Developmental and Comparative Immunology
• Reviewer: Developmental and Comparative Immunology, Virology Journal, Veterinary Research
• Service: Biosafety Committee, Laboratory Safety Committee, Co-operative Education Reports Committee

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Physiology, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Alberta
• Bachelor of Science (BSc Honours), Honours Immunology and Infection (with Distinction), University of Alberta