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IMS Affiliated Faculty

Faculty are hired by their respective departments, to which they owe primary responsibility; however, the institute continues to be involved in the identification of hiring and faculty needs of the cross-disciplinary marine program through active involvement in new faculty searches and in support of departmental recommendations. Affiliated faculty and researchers are those individuals that utilize any of the ORU’s resources (space, seawater, equipment, etc) and/or individuals whose research falls within one of the seven research clusters supported by IMS. IMS only appoints affiliates in the ORU based on the individual researchers request to be associated with the ORU.
Fitnat Yildiz
  • Title
    • Associate Dean of Research & Research Impact | PBSci Division Distinguished Professor
  • Division Physical & Biological Sciences Division
  • Department
    • Microbiology & Environmental Toxicology Department
    • Institute of Marine Sciences
  • Affiliations Biomolecular Science & Engineering
  • Phone
    831-459-1588
  • Email
  • Website
  • Office Location
    • Biomedical Sciences, 240
    • BioMEd 245
  • Office Hours By Appointment
  • Mail Stop METX
  • Mailing Address
    • 1156 High Street
    • Santa Cruz CA 95064

Summary of Expertise

Fitnat Yildiz is an expert in microbiology and molecular genetics, with a focus on bacterial biofilms and pathogenesis. 

Research Interests

Yildiz lab studies how bacterial biofilms form and contribute to disease, using Vibrio cholerae as a model. Biofilms are protective communities of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics and immune responses. We investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms that drive biofilm formation, how these processes are regulated, and the consequences for pathogenesis. Our interdisciplinary approach combines genetics, biochemistry, imaging, and modeling to identify new targets for biofilm control and treatment strategies.

Teaching Interests

Dr. Fitnat Yildiz's teaching interests focus on microbiology, molecular biology, microbial genetics, and bacterial pathogenesis.