The Secret Social Life of Bacteria
Have you ever wondered how bacteria communicate, cooperate, and even compete in ways that impact our health, environment, and beyond? More than just making us sick, bacteria form alliances, wage wars, and orchestrate remarkable feats on a scale so small, yet so influential. In this talk Maggie Fink '24 Ph.D., will unravel some of the microbial mysteries that shape our lives, and help us gain a new appreciation for the invisible hidden dramas unfolding all around us.
Experience the Event
Presented by Department of Physics
Have you ever wondered how bacteria communicate, cooperate, and even compete in ways that impact our health, environment, and beyond? More than just making us sick, bacteria form alliances, wage wars, and orchestrate remarkable feats on a scale so small, yet so influential. In this talk Maggie Fink ’24 Ph.D., will unravel some of the microbial mysteries that shape our lives, and help us gain a new appreciation for the invisible hidden dramas unfolding all around us.
Meet the Faculty: Maggie Fink '24 Ph.D.
Maggie Fink ’24 Ph.D., is an adjunct professor at Indiana University South Bend. Maggie Fink is an award-winning scientist, poet, and illustrator. She received her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in Microbiology and her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University South Bend and a bachelor’s in theology from Northland International University. Maggie has received multiple awards for her scientific research. In 2021, she was recognized with the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. She has also received the Joseph Ross Science Presentation award, a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Award, and the Carolyn and Lawrence Garber Research Fellowship. Her work has appeared in journals such as Protein Engineering Design and Selection and was presented at several national and regional scientific conferences. Maggie is also a co-inventor on a United States patent application for using proteins to detect the herbicide found in RoundUp in soil and drinking water. Maggie is a strong advocate for women in science, serving as a mentor for the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) and as a member of the Committee of Women Faculty and Students as well as the Leadership Advancing Socially Engaging Research (LASER).
For her work, Maggie received the Indiana University Women Helping Women Award, and was appointed as the Campus Lead Peer Mentor. As a writer, Maggie’s poetry appeared in Landlocked Lyres and received the award for Best Creative Writing at the Annual Indiana University South Bend Conference on Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. In addition to her writing, she has also been recognized for her illustrative work and is known for incorporating her art into her scientific presentations. She is also engaged in science communication efforts locally and nationally. She participated in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “Art of Science Communication” workshop and presented her work at the Annual Indiana Science Communication Day.Maggie Fink is an award-winning scientist, poet, and illustrator. She is currently an adjunct professor at Indiana University South Bend. Maggie received her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in Microbiology and her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Indiana University South Bend and a bachelor’s in theology from Northland International University. Maggie has received multiple awards for her scientific research. In 2021, she was recognized with the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. She has also received the Joseph Ross Science Presentation award, a National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Award, and the Carolyn and Lawrence Garber Research Fellowship. Her work has appeared in journals such as Protein Engineering Design and Selection and was presented at several national and regional scientific conferences. Maggie is also a co-inventor on a United States patent application for using proteins to detect the herbicide found in RoundUp in soil and drinking water. Maggie is a strong advocate for women in science, serving as a mentor for the Association of Women in Science (AWIS) and as a member of the Committee of Women Faculty and Students as well as the Leadership Advancing Socially Engaging Research (LASER). For her work, Maggie received the Indiana University Women Helping Women Award, and was appointed as the Campus Lead Peer Mentor. As a writer, Maggie’s poetry appeared in Landlocked Lyres and received the award for Best Creative Writing at the Annual Indiana University South Bend Conference on Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities. In addition to her writing, she has also been recognized for her illustrative work and is known for incorporating her art into her scientific presentations. She is also engaged in science communication efforts locally and nationally. She participated in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology “Art of Science Communication” workshop and presented her work at the Annual Indiana Science Communication Day.