University of Wisconsin–Madison

Year: 2025

Alumni Spotlight – Alex Chang

Name: Alex Chang Job Title and Current Employer: Researcher at Dr. Marina Sharifi’s Lab in the UW Carbone Cancer Center (UWCCC) Home Town: Austin, TX Current Location: Madison, WI Short Description of your time in the Bacteriology MS Program: I pursued the research track as a research assistant in the joint lab of Drs. Tim …

Alumni Spotlight – Dominique Smith

Name: Dominique Smith Job Title and Current Employer: Biophysics PhD Student at UW – Madison Home Town: Oak Creek, WI Current Location: Madison, WI Short Description of your time in the Bacteriology MS Program: My 2022-24 Bacteriology M.S. was a deep dive into molecular genetics and microbial physiology in Dr. Briana Burton’s lab. Conducting an …

Alumni Spotlight – Rachel Beers

Name: Rachel Beers, M.S. Job Title and Current Employer: Clinical Coordinator at Medical College of Wisconsin and Associate Professor of Microbiology at Bryant & Stratton College Home Town: Delavan, WI Current Location: Milwaukee, WI Short Description of your time in the Bacteriology MS Program: I had an extremely positive experience in the program. I was …

Congratulations to Dr. Kerri Coon on receiving the Emil H. Steiger Teaching Award!

Coon’s teaching philosophy is centered on the guiding principle that educators should serve not only as communicators of information but as facilitators of independent and active learning. She teaches her students that communication and collaboration are essential skills in scientific practice. Notably, she emphasizes that these skills are learned rather than innate. In so doing, …

Congratulations to Mark Mandel a 2025-26 Vilas Associates Competition awardee!

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research has announced 20 faculty winners of the Vilas Associates Competition. The competition recognizes “new and ongoing research of the highest quality and significance.” Tenure-track assistant professors and tenured faculty within 20 years of their tenure date are eligible. The award is funded by the William F. Vilas Estate …

Student Highlight – Sofia Fernandez

As a Master’s student in Bacteriology, I explore the role of microbial communities in health, an area that aligns with my goal of becoming a physician. My experience in bacteriology has deepened my understanding of how the microbial world around us intersects with well-being and culture, particularly through courses in infectious diseases, public and population …