The Pathogen & Microbiome Institute (PMI) is a multi-disciplinary research center at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. We perform cutting-edge research on both pathogenic and commensal microbes, with the goal of advancing the human condition through the careful application of state of the art microbial and genomic science. PMI is committed to undergraduate and graduate student research training in an internationally-recognized world-class facility. We have over 100 faculty, full time staff, graduate and undergraduate students working with domestic and international collaborators to conduct experiments that define the future of pathogen research.

Leadership Team

Paul Keim

Executive Director

With research centered on genomic analysis, Dr. Keim is the Cowden Endowed Chair of Microbiology at Northern Arizona University (NAU), the Director of Pathogen Genomics at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen).

Dave Wagner

Director of Biodefense and Disease Ecology Center

Dave Wagner is a disease ecologist whose primary research interests are the ecology and evolution of infectious diseases. He uses genetic and genomic variation within pathogen, vector and host species to better understand infectious diseases.

Jeff Foster

Associate Professor

Jeff Foster is a disease ecologist and evolutionary biologist with a primary focus on birds and bats and their pathogens, with other interests on brucellosis in livestock and wildlife, metabarcoding of animal diets, and seed dispersal.

Dawn Birdsell

Associate Director of Training and Education

With the focus on developing the next generation workforce, Dawn designs and organizes hands-on science training programs for PMI undergraduates. These programs foster foundational skills essential for career success.

PMI in the News

Keim Award 2021

The Keim Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research is designed to reward excellence in research by outstanding NAU students during their undergraduate studies.

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Stenoparib & COVID-19

Stenoparib, an inhibitor of cellular poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), blocks replication of the SARS-CoV-2 and HCoV-NL63 human coronaviruses in vitro.

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Antimicrobial Resistant Yersinia Pestis

Known as the infamous Black Death, Plague continues to affect hundreds of people globally each year in underdeveloped countries.

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Funding Sources & Collaborators

The research at Pathogen & Microbiome Institute is funded by grants from federal, state, and local sources. Our extensive research collaborates with scientists and organizations from across the globe.