Katie Ballering, PhD

Dr. Ballering is a research associate for the BioWatch program, where she provides laboratory expertise for the development of guidance and for exercises. She graduated in 2004 with a BS in bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed undergraduate research projects focused on both Xenorhabdus nematophilus and Agrobacterium tumefaciens siderophore production.

Dr. Ballering received her PhD from the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology graduate program in 2010 at the University of Minnesota. Her thesis work focused on bacterial genetics, specifically understanding the genetic components of biofilm formation in the nosocomial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. Dr. Ballering contributed to the CIDRAP Comprehensive Influenza Vaccine Initiative project in 2010 and 2011, focusing primarily on aspects of virology and immunology related to both current and novel influenza vaccine technology.