Jennifer Kerr

Biography

Dr.

Jennifer Kerr, PhD, is an Endowed Chair of Biological Science in the Biology Department at Notre Dame of Maryland University, where she leads innovative undergraduate research and STEM training initiatives. She directs the BMORE (Bioinformatics, Multi-Omics Research and Education) Lab, which engages students in hands-on genomics and microbiome research connected to environmental and human health. Her work focuses on microbiology, genomics, bioinformatics, and environmental health, with an emphasis on expanding access to research experiences inside and outside the classroom.

Dr. Kerr collaborates on federally supported initiatives through the National Institutes of Health and the National Human Genome Research Institute to enhance student engagement in genomics-driven research, mentoring, and career development in biomedical science.

Through her leadership, Dr. Kerr integrates teaching, scholarship, and mentorship to prepare the next generation of scientists, advancing development of the workforce community and broadening participation in genomics and data science health research.

Research 

My research scholarship focuses primarily on a growing need to create and characterize new, non-invasive antimicrobial strategies and design practices that reduce antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Kerr is currently a Visiting Scientist working on bioinformatics at the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal Biosciences & Biotechnology Laboratory (ABBL) as part of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). Her work is centered on bioinformatics analysis within the Poultry Sciences Group. She is also a Co-PI for the C-MOOR Science Program (https://www.c-moor.org) that supports the increased accessibility to undergraduate bioinformatics curriculum using course based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). 

My research is unified under a core set of aims: 1) address the need for new and minimally invasive approaches to manage microbial infections 2) characterize new non-invasive products (including antibiotics) for their antimicrobial properties 3) assess prevalence of antimicrobial resistance genes and 4) to determine the link between observed disruptions seen in microbiome communities during disruption events.

This work is possible due to collaboration with local, national, and international science partners and funding from the National Institutes of Health. 

To learn more about Dr. Kerr’s work, please visit her website at http://www.jenniferkerr.science 

and Book chapters (if applicable)

Selected publications:

Pomeroy AE, Bixler A, Chen SH, Kerr JE, Levine TD and Ryder EF (2024) “R” U ready?: a case study using R to analyze changes in gene expression during evolution. Front. Educ. 9:1379910. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1379910 

Funding: RCN-UBE #1730317 High-throughput Discovery Science & Inquiry-based Case Studies for Today’s Students (HITS) 

Miller S, Kerr JE, Hanselsman.  AJEDI in Science: Leveraging Instructor Communities to Create Antiracist Curricula. J Microbiol Biol Educ. 2022 Apr 11;22(1):22.1.48. doi: 10.1128/jmbe.00248-21. PMID: 33884089; PMCID: PMC8046657.

Kerr JE, Arndt GD, Byerly DL, Rubinovitz R, Theriot CA, Stangel I. FT-Raman Spectroscopy Study of the Remineralization of Microwave-Exposed Artificial Caries. J Dent Res. 2016 Mar;95(3):342-8. PubMed PMID: 26647390.

Funding associated:

NSF 1215100 SBIR The Chairside Delivery of Focused Microwave Energy for Caries Therapy

Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) Council for Faculty Research and Development Funds 

Kerr JE, Gena TD. Advances in Salivary Diagnostics. Streckfus CF, editor. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer-Verlad; 2015. Chapter 5, Salivary Diagnostics and the Oral Microbiome; p.83-119.

Kerr JE, Abramian JR, Dao DHV, Rigney TW, Fritz J, Pham T, Gay I, Parthsarathey, Wang BY, Zhang WJ, Tribble GD. Genetic Exchange of Fimbrial Alleles Exemplifies the Adaptive Virulence Strategy of Porphyromonas gingivalis. PLOS ONE. 2014 Mar 13;9(3):e91696. 

Funding associated:

R01 DE019634 Porphyromonas gingivalis Horizontal DNA Transfer and Genetic Variation

TL1 TR000369 Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS)

UL1 TR000371 Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS)

Tribble GD, Kerr JE, Wang BY. Genetic diversity in the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis: molecular mechanisms and biological consequences. Future Microbiol. 2013 May;8(5):60720.

doi: 10.2217/fmb.13.30. PubMed PMID: 23642116.

Funding associated:

R01 DE019634 Porphyromonas gingivalis Horizontal DNA Transfer and Genetic Variation

P30 CA016672 Clinical and Translations Research Center 

Tribble GD, Rigney TW, Dao DH, Wong CT, Kerr JE, Taylor BE, Pacha S, Kaplan HB. 2012. Natural competence is a major mechanism for horizontal DNA transfer in the oral pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. MBio. 2012 Jan 31;3(1). 

Funding associated:

R01 DE019634 Porphyromonas gingivalis Horizontal DNA Transfer and Genetic Variation

Created and presented a community seminar, Microbes at work, for the Baltimore Underground Science Space community.  This talk took a historic look at how biopharmaceuticals started, focusing on origin stories of antibiotics and insulin.

Jul 14, 2022

https://bugssonline.org/pastseminar/microbes-at-work/ 

Created and presented a community science workshop, It’s electric!- Bacterial Batteries Workshop, for the Baltimore Underground Science Space community.

Jun 25, 2022

Baltimore, MD

NPR ShortWave Science Podcast Guest, Let’s Get Crafty With Agar Art!  

Jun 22, 2022

Science and art collide as we discuss how colorful bacteria can be used to create living art. 

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/22/1106686014/lets-get-crafty-with-agar-art 

Co-organizer, American Society for Microbiology’s ‘Meet the Microbes’ Workshop

This interactive event helped participants of all ages learn about the science of microbes like bacteria and yeast through art. Everyone who attended had the chance to make their own piece of microbial art.

Washington, DC

Jun 8, 2022

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-the-microbes-tickets-321788958437 

Created and presented a community seminar, Microbes in Space, for the Baltimore Underground Science Space community.  This seminar highlighted projects conducted in space relating to microbiology. https://bugssonline.org/pastseminar/microbes-in-space/

Jun 4, 2022

Co-organizer, Agar Art Workshop for the Baltimore Underground Science Space community.  

Baltimore, MD 

Oct 9, 2021

Evaluator for Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS), formerly Intel STS

Nov 2014- Nov 2020

Rules Reviewer for Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS)

Nov 2020-Present

ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3946-449X 

Website http://www.jenniferkerr.science

C-MOOR website https://www.c-moor.org/ 

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

• American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
• National Science Teaching Association (NTSA)
• Society for Advancement of Biology Education Research (SABER)