Nora Shamoon, M.S.

At the University of California, Merced, Nora is a doctoral researcher in the Nobile lab, where she investigates the genetic mechanisms driving Candida albicans virulence during host infection. C. albicans is one of the most prevalent fungal pathogens of humans. Utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 genome engineering, live-animal microscopy, and in vivo modeling, she aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for fungal disease. She is also a graduate scholar and five-time fellowship awardee through the Center for Cellular and Biomolecular Machines at UC Merced. Since 2018, Nora has led community STEM outreach efforts, engaging much more than several hundred K–12 students in science.