Jonathan Sewell Finkel

Degrees

• Ph.D., Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin, Madison
• B.A., Chemistry and Norwegian, Saint Olaf College

Biography

Assistant Professor of Biology Jonathan Finkel teaches courses in the areas of genetics, molecular biology and microbiology. His research interest focuses on the fact that implanted medical devices – such as catheters, artificial joints and artificial heart valves – are associated with elevated rates of bloodstream infection. Specifically, he seeks to elucidate the adherence and biofilm formation mechanisms of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, the major fungal pathogen of humans.

Finkel joined the Biology department at University of Detroit Mercy in fall 2016. He teaches Microbiology, the HHMI-designed SEA-PHAGES course that replaces Biology Lab 1, Biology 1200, Biology 1220, Fundamentals of Bioinformatics and the HHMI-designed SEA-GENES course.

As a graduate student Finkel was award a National Institute of Health (NIH) Kirschstein National Research Service Award, and as a post-doctoral fellow he was awarded a NIH Kirschstein National Research Service Award F32 and a National Science Foundation First IV teaching fellowship.

As a professor at Carnegie Mellon University Qatar, he was award a National Priority Research Program grant from the Qatar National Research Fund.