Sharon Keller: Directory

Biography

Dr. Sharon Keller is very passionate about her teaching, specifically in the art of using different teaching methods to engage students inside and outside of the classroom. She is constantly attending different workshops, symposiums and conferences that focus on how to improve teaching, both face to face and virtual teaching settings.

Keller's research interest for the past 12 or so years has been in the parasitology field. Her fascination with parasites began as an undergraduate research project at UGA's Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. She became interested in the functional role a phospholipase C enzyme in Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness. The goal of researching this enzyme is to find better drug targets and better drugs to treat this disease. The four drugs available for treatment have limited effectiveness and have severe side effects for patients; therefore, the need for improved chemotherapy is great. She will continue the fight against this disease until there are better treatment options.

Education

• Doctorate – cellular biology (parasitology) – University of Georgia
• Bachelor’s – cellular biology – University of Georgia

Distinctions

• NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Fellowship 2012-2014
• ARCS award recipient, Global Impact Award 2012-2013
• UGA Interdisciplinary Certificate in College Teaching 2013
• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Georgia 2012
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional 2008-2011 Research Training Grant (T32)

Professional Affiliations

• Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases
• Achievement Rewards for College Scientists