Sarah Fankhauser
Associate Professor of Biology
Sarah Fankhauser is an Associate Professor of Biology. She received her B.S. in Biology with Highest Honors from Georgia Institute of Technology in 2007. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunobiology from Harvard University in 2013. During her graduate work she studied the pathogenesis of Shigella flexneri, Listeria monocytogenes and Chlamydia trachomatis. Her Ph.D. dissertation investigated how C. trachomatis infection suppresses immune function in mice. From 2013-15, Dr. Fankhauser held the position of Postdoctoral Fellow at the Emory Atlanta campus where she studied the pathogenesis of the bacterium Burkholderia cenocepacia.
Dr. Fankhauser came to Oxford in the fall of 2015 and currently teaches courses in the introductory biology sequence. She is very passionate about the scientific process and looks forward to bringing her enthusiasm to the classroom. Upon coming to Oxford, Dr. Fankhauser created a research program investigating microbial communities at the Oxford Organic Farm. However, she has since focused her research on her other passion: science literacy. Dr. Fankhauser was recently awarded two grants from the National Science Foundation to investigate the role of science communication in learning and understanding the nature of science. She has several ongoing collaborations with researchers investigating how pre-college and college students can engage in the scientific process through participation in the primary literature process. For all of her research projects, Dr. Fankhauser is dedicated to including and mentoring undergraduate research assistants in the research process.
Dr. Fankhauser was raised in Georgia and enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. In her free time she works to improve K-12 science education through the non-profit she started: The Journal of Emerging Investigators (www.emerginginvestigators.org).
Education
BS| Georgia Institute of Technology| 2007
Ph.D.| Harvard University| 2013
Courses Taught
Bio120, Bio141 and Bio142, Discovery Seminar: Pathogens and Pathologies.
Accomplishments
In 2019, Dr. Fankhauser was awarded the New England Biolabs Passion in Science Award for her scientific mentorship and advocacy. https://www.neb.com/about-neb/passion-in-science-awards
In 2018, Dr. Fankhauser was honored to receive the Oxford College Robert Cotter Mizell and Louise Felker Mizell Award for superior contribution to the education of Oxford College students.
In 2016, Dr. Fankhauser was named an American Society of Microbiology Undergraduate Faculty Research Initiative Fellow.
Publications
Eddie Rodriguez, Michael Mazzola, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “No science fair? No problem. Engaging students in science communication through peer-review and publication in a remote world.” 2022. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. https://doi.org/10.1128/jmbe.00146-21
Sarah C. Fankhauser, Gwendolynne Reid, Gwendolyn Mirzoyan*, Clara Meaders, Olivia Ho-Shing. “Participating in the scientific publication process: Exploring how pre-college students perceive publication within the scientific enterprise.” 2021. Disciplinary and Interdisciplinary Science Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43031-021-00032-z
Charlotte H. Wang*, Linda Wu*, Zengyan Wang, Magdy S. Alabady, Daniel Parson, Zainab Molumo*, Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Characterizing changes in soil microbiome abundance and diversity due to different cover crop techniques.” 2020. Public Library of Science ONE. 15(5): e0232453. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0232453
Gwendolynne Reid, Sarah C. Fankhauser, Gwendolyn Mirzoyan*, Clara Meaders, Olivia Ho-Shing. “Writing the scientific self: Secondary students’ development of self through self-sponsored scientific writing.” Research in Teaching of English. In review.
Elizabeth Johnson* and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Engagement in the publication process improves perceptions of scientific communication, critique and career skills among graduate students.” 2018. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 19(1): doi:10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1417
John J. Varga, Sarah C. Fankhauser, Deborah R. Yoder-Himes, and Joanna B. Goldberg. “Tn-seq analysis identifies genes required for Burkholderia cenocepacia survival in a mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease.” Manuscript in preparation.
Sarah C. Fankhauser and Joanna Goldberg. “Mutation of homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase contributes to virulence and resistance to reactive nitrogen species in Burkholderia cenocepacia.” Accepted with revisions: Pathogens and Disease.
Sarah C. Fankhauser. “My winding path to satisfaction.” 2016. Science. 352 (6293): 1606.
Sarah Fankhauser and Rebecca Lijek, “Incorporating Primary Scientific Literature in Middle and High School Education.” 2016. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 17(1):120-124.
Rebecca Lijek and Sarah Fankhauser. “Using Scavenger Hunts to Familiarize Students with Scientific Journal Articles.” 2016. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education. 17(1): 125-128.
Laura Gonyar, Sarah Fankhauser, and Joanna Goldberg. “Single amino acid substitution in homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase is responsible for pigmentation in a subset of Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates.” 2015. Environmental Microbiology and Environmental Microbiology Reports. 7(2): 180-187.
Sarah Fankhauser and Michael Starnbach. “PD-L1 limits the mucosal CD8+ T cell response to C. trachomatis.” 2013. Journal of Immunology. 192(3):1079-90.
Sukumaran, B., Mastronunzio, J. E., Narasimhan, S., Fankhauser, S., Uchil, P. D., Levy, R., Graham, M., Colpitts, T. M., Lesser, C. F. and Fikrig, E. “Anaplasma phagocytophilum AptA modulates Erk1/2 signalling.” 2011. Cellular Microbiology. 13(1):47-61.
*Denotes Oxford College Undergraduate Student
Presentations
Sarah C. Fankhauser, Gwendolynne Reid, Gwendolyn Mirzoyan*, Clara Meaders, Olivia Ho- Shing, “Participating in the scientific publication process: Expanding students’ perceptions of scientific inquiry and identity.” National Association of Research in Science Teaching Annual Conference. Virtual Conference. March, 2020.
Zainab Molumo*, Charlotte Wang*, Linda Wu*, Magdy Alabady, Zengyan Wang, Daniel Parson, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Different Cover Cropping Techniques Alter the Microbial Composition and Functionality of Soil.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Anaheim, CA. November 2019 (Poster)
Gwendolyn Mirzoyan*, Gwendolynne Reid, Clara Meaders, Olivia Ho-Shing, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “People, Processes, and Papers: Exposure to the Scientific Review Process in Secondary Education.” National Council on Undergraduate Research Conference. Kennesaw, GA. April 2019 (Poster)
Gwendolynne Reid, Gwendolyn Mirzoyan*, Clara Meaders, Olivia Ho-Shing, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Performing Science: Secondary School Students’ Experiences with Publishing Science.” Conference on College Composition and Communication. Pittsburgh, PA. March 2019 (Oral)
Charlotte Wang*, Linda Wu*, Magdy Alabady, Zengyan Wang, Daniel Parson, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Characterizing the Effect of Different Organic Cover Crop Techniques on Microbial Diversity and Soil Fertility.” Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students. Indianapolis, IN. November 2018 (Poster)
Sarah C. Fankhauser, Teresa Less and Kathleen Grogan. “Making Evolution Stick: Evaluating the Use of Sticky Notes to Teach Evolution.” American Society of Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. Austin, TX. July 2018 (Poster)
Linda Wu*, Charlotte Wang*, Daniel Parson, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Characterizing the Effect of Different Organic Cover Crop Techniques on Microbial Diversity.” American Society of Microbiology Annual Conference. Atlanta, GA. June 2018 (Oral and Poster)
Elizabeth Johnson*, Mark Springel, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Engagement in the publication process improves scientific communication, critique and career skills among graduate students.” American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, PA. December 2017 (Oral)
Linda Wu*, Daniel Parson, and Sarah C. Fankhauser. “Investigation on the Effect of Different Organic Cover Crop Techniques on Soil Fertility and Microbial Diversity.” Emory University Undergraduate Research Experience Symposium. Atlanta, GA. July 2017 (Poster)
John J. Varga, Sarah C. Fankhauser, Deborah R. Yoder-Himes, and Joanna B. Goldberg. “Tn-seq analysis identifies genes required for Burkholderia cenocepacia survival in a mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease.” American Society of Microbiology Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA. June 2017 (Poster)
John Varga, Sarah C. Fankhauser, Deborah R. Yoder-Himes and Joanna Goldberg. “Tn-Seq analysis reveals putative essential genes in Burkholderia cenocepacia chronic granulomatous disease mouse infections.” Southeast regional Cystic Fibrosis symposium. Atlanta, GA. April 2016 (Poster)
John Varga, Sarah C. Fankhauser, Deborah R. Yoder-Himes and Joanna Goldberg. “Tn-Seq analysis reveals putative essential genes in Burkholderia cenocepacia chronic granulomatous disease mouse infections.” International Burkholderia cepacia working group meeting. Columbus, OH. April 2016 (Oral presentation)
Sarah C. Fankhauser, Melissa Ivey and Joanna Goldberg. “Pyomelanin Production Contributes To Virulence In The Human Pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315.” American Society of Microbiology Annual Conference. Boston, MA. June 2016 (Poster)
Sarah C. Fankhauser and Joanna Goldberg. “Pyomelanin production in Burkholderia cenocepacia contributes to pathogenesis.” National IRACDA Conference. San Diego, CA. June 2015 (Poster)
Sarah C. Fankhauser and Joanna Goldberg. “What’s in a Color: Using Bacterial Pigmentation to Study Bacterial Physiology and the Scientific Research Process.” American Society of Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators. Dallas, TX. June 2015 (Oral presentation)
Sarah C. Fankhauser and Michael Starnbach. “CD8+ T cell responses to Chlamydia trachomatis.” Annual New England Immunology Conference. Woods Hole, MA. October 2011 (Poster)
Sarah Paglioni and Cammie Lesser. “Characterization of the Shigella flexneri type III secreted effector IpaJ.” Boston Bacterial Meeting. Boston, MA. June 2009 (Poster)
Sarah Paglioni and John Kirby. “Adaptation of Chemotaxis in Bacillus subtilis.” American Society of Microbiology Annual Conference. Orlando, FL. June 2006 (Poster)