Ken Ringwald

Background

About Ken Ringwald

I am a microbiologist studying the problem of antimicrobial resistance at the molecular level. My current project uses CRISPR-Cas technology to enrich for the mobile elements that move antimicrobial resistance genes between bacteria. The CRISPR-Capture approach lets us identify novel mobile genetic elements and monitor the spread of antimicrobial genes. It will reveal where these genes are and how they move even before they complicate disease treatments. As a graduate student, I studied the molecular details of the CTnDOT integrative and conjugative element found in the gut bacteria Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron. CTnDOT carries resistance to two antibiotics, and antibiotic use induces the element to spread. In order to understand how CTnDOT interacted with the B. thetaiotaomicron host chromosome, we used in vitro assays to study protein-nucleic acid interactions. We characterized the recombination reaction in vitro using gel electrophoresis and fluorescent footprinting. These results clarified the recombination reaction of the CTnDOT element and provided insights into its potential host range. Communicating results is an essential aspect of science and education is a key aspect of that process. In addition to research, I taught extensively as a graduate student. I was a teaching assistant for hundreds of undergraduates in the introductory molecular biology class at the University of Illinois. I also taught upper-level courses on genetics and microbial disease. To improve my teaching skills, I earned two certificates from the campus Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. These certificates involved observations and reflections of my teaching, writing a pedagogical literature review, and collaborating in numerous workshops. I also became a teaching fellows alumnus of the American Society for Microbiology by completing the Best Practices in Curriculum Design, Teaching, and Assessment online webinar in May 2018. Contact email: ken.ringwald@gmail.com