Rate My Professor Jennifer Bomberger

Bomberger established her independent research program in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, rising through the ranks to full Professor, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Cystic Fibrosis Research Development Program, and Vice Chair of Graduate Education. In 2022, she returned to Dartmouth with her research team to continue her investigations into viral-bacterial and polymicrobial interactions in the respiratory tract. Her laboratory examines the interplay between bacterial and viral pathogens, particularly in chronic lung diseases like cystic fibrosis. Current studies elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which innate immune responses induce biofilm growth in the lung, with a focus on chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that severely impact cystic fibrosis patients. Employing live-cell imaging, microbiological assays, cell biology techniques, and advanced genomics, her team translates bench research to clinical applications through collaborations with physicians in Otolaryngology and Pulmonary Medicine, studying viral-bacterial dynamics in patient upper and lower respiratory tracts. As Principal Investigator and Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research Development Program at Dartmouth, Bomberger leads efforts to identify novel therapeutic targets to disrupt persistent biofilms and improve outcomes for those with chronic respiratory conditions.