Patrick M. Erwin
Professor
Education
2009 MBA University of North Carolina Wilmington Business – Marine Biotechnology
2007 Ph.D. University of Alabama at Birmingham Biology – Microbial Ecology
2003 M.Sc. University of Alabama at Birmingham Biology – Molecular Phylogenetics
2001 B.Sc. University of Richmond Biology – Ecology & Evolution
Specialization in Teaching
BIO 330 - Microbiology
BIO 411 - The Human Microbiome
BIO 495 - Microbes & Mental Health: The Gut-Brain Axiz
BIO 526 - Advanced Topics in Microbiology
BIO 604 - Cellular and Molecular Biology
HON 399 - Preparation for Honors Thesis
Research Interests
• Primary research interests are microbial ecology and environmental microbiology, with particular focus on the structure, function and dynamics of microbial symbionts in marine animals and their contributions to ocean health.
• Long-term goals include applying marine animal-microbe symbiosis to environmental monitoring programs and utilizing these data to forecast species susceptibility and ecosystem change.
• Secondary research interests include marine invertebrate life cycles, larval behavior of reef-building corals and the economic valuation of marine ecosystem resources for conservation initiatives.