Tim Korpita

Biography:
Tim is a PhD student in the McKenzie Lab in the department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. He studies host associated microbial communities (mainly in amphibians), and his work often falls at the intersection of ecology, microbiology, and conservation. For example, Tim is developing probiotic treatments to help amphibian species that are afflicted by the recently emerged chytrid fungal pathogen. This pathogen is causing the decline of amphibian populations all over the world, including the Boreal toads here in Colorado. Before beginning his graduate studies, Tim was a high school science teacher in Brooklyn, New York. Tim is still passionate about teaching. While at CU, he has served as the EBIO lead for the Graduate Teacher Program and he hopes to teach at the post-secondary level after completing his PhD.