My name is Dr. Katherine D'Amico-Willman, and I am currently a USDA NIFA postdoctoral scholar working in the Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University. I am a member of the Phytobacteriology Lab led by Dr. Alejandra Huerta where my focus is researching the ecological and evolutionary impacts of the interaction between phytopathogenic bacteria and bacteriophage. Specifically, I am working with Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni which is pathogenic on peach and susceptible to infection by a suite of bacteriophage.

Prior to working at NCSU, I earned my PhD from the Translational Plant Sciences graduate program at The Ohio State University. For my dissertation research, I worked broadly on perennial plant aging using almond (Prunus dulcis) as a model system. Almond exhibits an aging related disorder called non-infectious bud failure hypothesized to be related to changes in DNA methylation profiles. In my work, I profiled DNA methylation in association with age and bud failure status in almond. I have also worked as a Molecular Biologist for the USDA ARS in Ithaca, NY, and I earned a Master's degree working with American chestnut (Castenea dentata) at SUNY ESF in Syracuse, NY.

Outside of work, I love to garden, travel, and spend time outside with my dog, Acer, and my husband.