Rachel Larsen, PhD
SHE | HER | HERS
- Principal Lecturer of Biology
Education
- PhD, Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- MS, Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
Research Interests
Dr. Larsen is interested in bacterial metabolism, particularly as it relates to interactions within the natural environment and oversees occasional student projects that relate to this subject. Prior to joining the faculty at USM, as a research scientist she first studied metabolic pathways for alkenes and ketones among soil bacteria and then worked on identifying mechanisms of DNA (plasmid) maintenance in Bacillus species.
Student projects at USM have included: isolating bacteria from soil that metabolize antibiotics as a food source, exploring the microbial populations of the fermented beverage kombucha, identifying microbes that may degrade plastics in the ocean, exploring the role of the microbial communities in an aquaponics system, and identifying nitrogen cycling microbes associated with salt marsh plants.
Dr. Larsen joined the Biology Department at USM in 2012 after a visiting faculty appointment at Bowdoin College. She held postdoctoral positions at the University of Illinois and Utah State University before working as a research scientist and teaching at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Larsen is a microbiologist with expertise in ecology and metabolism. She primarily teaches Microbiology for the Health Sciences (BIO 281), together with Microbiology lab (BIO 282), as well as Microbiology (BIO 311) for biology majors. She also teaches Microbial Ecology (BIO 415/515, 416/516) in alternate years.
Education
- PhD, Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- MS, Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
- BA, Biology, Vassar College
Research Interests
Dr. Larsen is interested in bacterial metabolism, particularly as it relates to interactions within the natural environment and oversees occasional student projects that relate to this subject. Prior to joining the faculty at USM, as a research scientist she first studied metabolic pathways for alkenes and ketones among soil bacteria and then worked on identifying mechanisms of DNA (plasmid) maintenance in Bacillus species.
Student projects at USM have included: isolating bacteria from soil that metabolize antibiotics as a food source, exploring the microbial populations of the fermented beverage kombucha, identifying microbes that may degrade plastics in the ocean, exploring the role of the microbial communities in an aquaponics system, and identifying nitrogen cycling microbes associated with salt marsh plants.