Vonetta Edwards, PhD, focuses her research on analyzing the role of the vaginal microbiome, spanning all stages of the reproductive life, in modulating the susceptibility of host cells to both single and co-infections of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). She applies cell culture models in collaboration with microbiological and molecular and cellular techniques to better understand and interpret observed data from omics studies. The goal of her research is to create better diagnostics, prevention and therapeutics for STIs.  

Her extensive background in cell culture, molecular and cellular biology, microbiology and bioinformatics has allowed her to conduct forward-thinking multi-disciplinary research. 

Dr. Edwards received her PhD in cell/cellular and molecular biology from the University of Maryland College Park in 2012. After completing her Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS), she joined the IGS faculty and became a Research Associate in 2021.