Justin Kaspar, PhD, Joins College Faculty

Dr. Justin Kaspar will join the college faculty on July 1 as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Biosciences. He earned a B.S. degree in microbiology from Texas A&M University, after which he completed a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences in the College of Medicine at the University of Florida.

He has since served as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Oral Biology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, where he has conducted research funded by grants from the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). Dr. Kaspar's projects have investigated bacterial communication in the caries-causing microbe Streptococcus mutans and the pathogen's ability to survive and persist. His current research examines new mechanisms by which oral bacteria "fight back" against their disease-causing rivals. With NIDCR funding pending, his work is aimed at determining new pathways that could serve as targets for therapeutic interventions that selectively remove pathogens like S. mutans from the oral cavity, while keeping the normal, healthy microbiome intact.

As a faculty member, Dr. Kaspar will conduct research and contribute to the didactic teaching responsibilities of the Division of Biosciences. He will also support curriculum development to ensure the highest quality of educational experiences for pre-doctoral students.