Erin McClelland, Ph.D., assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine, has received a Senior Research Grant from the Indiana Academy of Science.
The $5,000 grant will support McClelland’s research project, “Delineating the microbial genetic pathways responsible for increased male susceptibility to Cryptococcus neoformans infections.”
Her research focuses on identifying microbial genetic factors that may help explain why males are more susceptible to the fungal infection, with the goal of advancing understanding of infectious disease mechanisms and improving future treatment approaches.
McClelland has been an active member of the Indiana Academy of Science since 2022. In addition to serving as section chair for Microbiology and Molecular Biology, she currently chairs the organization’s Science & Society Committee, which leads public-facing “Science with a Twist” events designed to promote science engagement and education across Indiana.
Earlier this year, McClelland was also named an Indiana Academy of Science Fellow in recognition of her contributions to research, scholarship, and service.