Dr. Jolene Ramsey

Biography

Jolene Ramsey joined the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University in 2022 as an Assistant Professor. Her research focuses on bacteriophage, which are natural predators of bacteria and play a crucial role in environmental biomass cycling. These viral entities possess the ability to identify and infect specific host cells, leading to the replication of phage particles until the host cell undergoes lysis. The foundational research on bacteriophages has significantly contributed to advancements in molecular biology and has implications for therapeutic applications, particularly in the context of antibiotic resistance. Through innovative techniques developed for isolating phages, Ramsey aims to harness these biological agents to combat bacterial infections effectively. In her laboratory, she employs molecular virology and genomic tools to explore how phages interact with their bacterial hosts, investigating the biochemical mechanisms, genetic diversity, and regulatory pathways that determine phage efficacy in bacterial cell lysis. As phage therapy gains momentum as a viable alternative to traditional antibiotics, her work is pivotal in bridging the gap between basic science and applied research for clinical and commercial use.

Research Interests