Grace Borlee

Dr. Grace Borlee has conducted research in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology since 2011. Her research focuses on studying the regulatory role of the secondary messenger, cyclic di-GMP, in the regulation of pathogenesis and biofilm formation in the select agent Burkholderia pseudomallei. Recently, she has characterized bacterial endosymbionts from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and the biting midge (Culicoides sonorensis) with the goal of identifying suitable bacterial candidates for developing paratransgenesis approaches to reduce viral replication. Prior to coming to Colorado State University, Dr. Borlee was a research scientist at the University of Washington and the toxicology group leader at a contract research organization. Dr. Borlee has taught course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE), laboratory courses (MIP401), an undergraduate early career preparation in microbiology course (MIP292), and a graduate-level course for research team mentoring (MP710), for the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology. As a scientist, she has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in the laboratory. Dr. Grace Borlee enjoys teaching students new laboratory techniques and then watching them blossom into confident, independent researchers. Her goal is to prepare students for a fulfilling career so that they can successfully embark on their scientific journey.