Paula McCourt, PhD

I have many years of experience teaching and mentoring in the biotechnological sciences. While working as a research scientist at Medical Diagnostic Laboratories/Venenum, I launched and led the development of the human genetic diagnostic panel designed to identify both human and fungal genes which influence patients’ predisposition/resistance to fungal mycoses. I have led the construction of molecular biological laboratories specifically designed to grow and house pathogenic microbiologicals, sensitive cell and tissue cultures, and murine strains.  I have studied the role of the lipid transporter protein, Arv1, in Candida albicans virulence and examined inhibitors of Arv1 to prevent pathogenic fungal growth. My specialties include working with fluorescent microscopy, cloning and designing plasmids, and growing a variety of specialized microbiological and mammalian cell cultures to understand the antimicrobial resistance of Candida albicans. In addition, I lead students in understanding the key ideas of viral bioprocess development using insect cell culture in the production of the baculovirus expression system.