This award was established by the Faculty of Science’s Associate Dean of Research, alongside the Science Research Advisory Committee to recognize outstanding research accomplishments by Science’s faculty members. Each year, one tenure-track and two tenured faculty members will be recognized. The goal of these new awards is to significantly increase the research profile of Science faculty members, and for those who receive them, strengthen subsequent nominations for external research awards.
Professor Barb Katzenback from the Department of Biology has been selected for this year’s tenure-track award. Her research investigates host-pathogen interactions in amphibians and how environmental stressors, such as exposure to microplastics, alters immune competency against pathogens. This research will generate new knowledge about host and environmental factors that may be contributing to global declines in amphibian populations.
“I am delighted to receive the ESRA and the support that it affords to focus on two research thrusts - uncovering novel immune-evasion mechanisms by amphibian pathogens and how exposure to microplastics impact facets of amphibian immune function”, says Professor Katzenback.
Professor Katzenback is one of three award winners, alongside her Science colleagues Professor Avery Broderick (Physics and Astronomy) and Professor Ben Thompson (Optometry and Vision Science).
Congratulations!
This article was originally published on the Faculty of Science website.