Diana Proctor

Six Candida species are classified by the World Health Organization as critical and high-priority fungal threats, with infections from non-albicans species rising globally. While Candida typically colonizes healthy individuals asymptomatically as part of the microbiome, it can lead to severe infections in vulnerable populations. In fact, Candida spp. are the fourth leading cause of bloodstream infections in the United States. The antifungals used in clinical settings are also applied in agriculture, creating unique One Health challenges and potentially contributing to the emergence of resistant fungal pathogens, such as Candida auris. My research program focuses on the factors influencing Candida's adaptive evolution and strain dynamics across diverse spatial and temporal contexts within microbiomes. Projects in the group seek to understand how antibiotics, which target bacteria, coupled with shifts in host physiology or health status underly the ascension of Candida to predominance within the microbiome in humans, the environment, and agriculture. By enhancing our understanding of where Candida resides and the factors that control its persistence or transience, we can improve our capacity to treat and prevent infections, perform effective public health surveillance, and predict the pathways by which antifungal resistance develops. Students in the group will gain comprehensive mastery of various microbial genomics methods, including amplicon-based sequencing, shotgun metagenomics, and whole genome sequencing. Through hands-on experience and rigorous training in bioinformatics, they will develop expertise in the human microbiome and the analysis of high-dimensional data, addressing critical research questions in microbial ecology, human health, and disease. By the end of their PhD projects, they will possess strong translational skills, prepared to undertake diverse careers in academia, government, or industry, where they can contribute to research, policy development, and innovation in microbiology and public health.