Edward Bernard, Ph.D.
Vice Chair, Co-Graduate Coordinator & Undergraduate Program Coordinator for Molecular & Biomedical Sciences
Senior Lecturer of Microbiology
Courses Taught: General Microbiology, Infectious Disease, Microbiology of Historical Plagues, Applied Microbiology
Teaching Statement: I genuinely believe that all students should be able to reach their course goals. To that end, I embrace the philosophy of “ungrading.” I try to disconnect the stress of “making the grade” to your learning experience. Future instructors, employers, medical schools, etc. will care a lot more about your understanding than your final grade! However, since I recognize that we live in a world where grades are still very emphasized, I want students to be able to leave my courses with a grade that they are satisfied with while focusing on their learning!
Research Statement: I am fascinated by the interactions of bacteria with each other and their hosts. My research focuses on understanding how human pathogenic organisms like Bacillus cereus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Vibrio parahemolyticus can be suppressed or eliminated in food wastes by black soldier fly larvae. My lab investigates the mechanisms responsible for this suppression by assaying both the normal microflora and the immune response of larvae.
Recent Publications:
Moyet, M., Morrill, H., Espinal, D.L., Bernard, E., and Alyokhin, A. Early Growth Patterns of Bacillus cereus on Potato Substrate in the Presence of Low Densities of Black Soldier Fly Larvae. 2023. Microorganisms: 11:1284.
Kinney, M., Moyet, M., Bernard, E., and Alyokhin, A. Suppression of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Reduction of Other Bacteria by Black Soldier Fly Larvae Reared on Potato Substrate. 2022. Microbiology Spectrum: 10(5), 1-10.
Bernard, E., Villazana, J., Alyokhin, A., and Rose, J. Colonization of Finfish Substrate Inhabited by Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) by Blowflies (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), Bacteria, and Fungi. 2020. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: 6(3), 291-304.
Education:
B.S. University of Maine – 2007
Ph.D. University of Maine – 2012
Email Address: edward.bernard@maine.edu
Phone: 207-581-2804
Location: 284 Hitchner Hall
Mailing Address: 5735 Hitchner Hall, University of Maine, 04469