Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin
B.S. in Microbiology with Honors, University of Florida
B.A. in History with Honors, University Florida
Dr. Georgiana Purdy is a tenured Full Professor In the Molecular Microbiology Department at Oregon Health and Sciences University. She is an accomplished senior scientist with 20 years of experience leading an independent biomedical research program.
She is an effective and confident science communicator in both written and oral presentations with the ability to communicate complex scientific ideas to a variety of audiences.
Her primary expertise is in the physiology and pathogenicity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She has a general interest in infectious disease, biofilms and drug development.
She has managed budgets and progress reports to granting agencies including the NIH.
She has experience in research compliance including for work in Biosafety Level 2 and Biosafety Level 3 laboratories and Select Agent research.
She has mentored scientists at all levels from high-school students to junior faculty.
Purdy Lab Research
Dr. Purdy obtained over $16 million of federal and foundation funds to support her research program focused on Mycobacterium tuberculosis biology, pathogenesis, and drug development. A major emphasis of her research is the biological and biochemical properties of the mycobacterial cell envelope, which is essential for intrinsic resistance to bactericidal compounds and immunomodulation of the host. How complex lipids are synthesized and transported to the cell wall remains an intriguing problem relevant to mycobacterial physiology, drug development, and pathogenesis. To address the above interests, the Purdy Lab combined bacterial genetics, biochemistry, cell biology and immunological approaches. Dr. Purdy’s contributions to the field have been recognized at the national and international level.
Mentorship
Dr. Purdy has mentored scientists at all levels from high-school students to junior faculty.
She trained 20+ research technicians, 9 undergraduate students, 10 graduate students, and 3 postdocs.
She was the Program Director for two PhD graduate programs: the Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Program and the interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Sciences.
Learn more about her philosophy on mentoring graduate students here:
Purdy Biosciences 