Tamarah Adair, PhD

Education

B.S. Biology, Baylor University
M.S. Biomedical Studies, Baylor University
Ph.D. Biomedical Studies, Baylor University

Research

• Microbiology
• RNA viral vectors
• MRSA
• Ciliates
• Bacteriophage
• Genomics

Courses Taught

Undergraduate Biology Courses

• BIO 1305 Modern Concepts of Bioscience I
• BIO 1306 Modern Concepts of Bioscience II
• BIO 1405 Investigations of Modern Biology Concepts I
• BIO 1406 Investigations of Modern Biology Concepts II
• BIO 1V90 Molecular and Microbiology Education and Research
• BIO 3V90 Molecular and Microbiology Education and Research
• Honors research
• BIO 4301 Immunology
• BIO 4401 General Microbiology

Departmental Interests

• Director of Course-Based Undergraduate Research in Biology
• Co-faculty sponsor BURST
• Undergraduate Affairs Committee Member 

Biography

I began my career in science as a Medical Laboratory Technician and later as a Technologist in Hematology.  I also spent 8 years teaching biology, chemistry, physics, reading, and algebra before returning to graduate school.  I enjoy time with my family and my horses, serving on work mission teams, music, sports, gardening, refinishing old stuff, and learning new things.

I love teaching at Baylor. My main responsibility is the teaching of the introductory courses for science majors. I am especially interested in developing inquiry-based curriculum that incorporates research in the undergraduate teaching labs. For example, BIO 1105 (BU-TREES) integrates the basic concepts of biology with laboratory and scientific communication skills by studying the trees on campus. In BIO 1106 (BIO-HEROES) students use model organisms and read the scientific literature to learn about experimental design and analysis.  I am currently offering the "Phage Lab", sponsored by HHMI and the Science Education Alliance and CILI-CURE, an inquiry-based lab in which students explore the diversity of ciliates in the soil.

Learn more about these programs here:

https://seaphages.org/

https://blogs.baylor.edu/cilicuref2018/

I have the privilege of mentoring motivated undergraduates who are interested in research. Working with undergraduates has allowed me to study a wide variety of questions. Over the years, my group has utilize a plant virus protein expression system, the C. elegans model system to describe an isolated distal tip cell mutant, and I also once worked with a student interested in studying behavior in captive snakes. The main objective is always to allow students to experience the process of science and see the relevance of biology to their lives. My undergraduate researcher group is now called M&M BEARS- Molecular and Microbiology Education and Research Students and we are focused on microbial genomics.  We have been exploring alternative strategies to treat antibiotic resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, specifically blue light photoinactivation and phage therapy. Students are currently designing metabarcoding protocols to determine the diversity of ciliates in the soil and exploring the role that they play in this ecosystem.

Baylor is such a great place to learn and grow. As the director of Undergraduate Research in the Office of Engaged Learning I have other opportunities to support research for undergraduates. For example, undergraduates can apply for research funding and each spring semester we sponsor "Scholars Week" where undergraduates can present their research. Overall,  I have a desire to model to students how to be life-long learners; to encourage students to ask questions and to grow in their ability to use evidence-based decision making. It is also important to me to model to students that a career in science can easily go hand-in-hand with a life of faith.