About Me
During my first semester of college I took a hands-on research course. Immediately, I was hooked. I spent the next four years researching bacteria-infecting viruses before graduating from Western Carolina University with a B.S. in Molecular Biology in 2019.
My passion for research led me to the University of Utah, where I am currently pursuing a PhD. I started researching virus evolution in 2020, right at the beginning of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Suddenly, the entire world was interested in the topic I was trying to become an expert on. This experience showed me how critical science communication is.
Science is for everyone! I strive to make engaging and accessible content to show people the science behind all the fantastic things around us.
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Have a question? Want to collaborate? Send me an email!
erin.cafferty@utah.edu
Education
Expected 2026
Ph.D. in Human Genetics
Dissertation titled: Evolution of viral mimicry following host gene acquisition in poxviruses
University of Utah
2019
Western Carolina University
B.S. in Biology
Magna cum laude
Thesis titled: The Search for a Novel Repressor Gene in Cluster M Bacteriophages
Awards
First place in the Utah SciComm Symposium Hackathon
Animated video titled: The Hidden History of our Immune System
Awarded $500
2025
First place in the Scientific Image & Data Visualization Competition
Data Visualization category, Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah
Infographic titled: Growth through Decay; measuring virus tiers through plaque assays
2024
First place in the 3I Science Art Contest
Art as Science category, University of Utah
Illustration titled titled: The Molecular Menagerie of Poxviridae
2023
Certificates
2022
Certificate in Science Communication
CIERA-Northwestern University’s Science Communication Online Programme
2022
Certificate in Science Communication
Lifeology’s SciComm Certificate Program