Dr. Heather Ayala 

Chair and Associate Professor of Biology

heatherayala@bac.edu

Faculty Profiles

-BS. Biology, Azusa Pacific University
-PhD. Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

  • General Biology
  • Senior Coordinating Seminar
  •  Invertebrate Zoology
  • Organismal Diversity
  • Parasitology
  • Research Methods
  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Anatomy & Physiology
  • Environmental Science

PUBLICATIONS

  • Ayala, Heather and Katie Rogstad. 2019. General Biology. Novare Science & Math.
  • Reilly, H., H. Wang, J. Steuter, A. Marx, & M. Ferdig. International Journal for Parasitology. 2007.
    Quantitative dissection of clone-specific growth rates in cultured malaria parasites. 37 (14): 1599-607.
  • Reilly Ayala, H., MA Wacker, G. Siwo, MT Ferdig, BMC Genomics. 2010. Quantitative trait loci mapping reveals candidate pathways regulating cell cycle duration in Plasmodium falciparum. 11: 577.

PRESENTATIONS

  • Poster presentation: “Comparative growth analysis of malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, using 3H-Hypoxanthine incorporation and SYBR green fluorescence.” Abstract 236. Katherman, K., A. Goldys, D. Champagne, H. Reilly Ayala. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), New Orleans, LA. November 2-6, 2014.
  • Poster presentation: “Integrating quantitative trait loci (QTL) with whole-genome data to identify candidate genes controlling growth traits in Plasmodium falciparum.” Abstract 160. Reilly, H., M. Wacker, A. Tan, J. Gonzales, & M. Ferdig. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Philadelphia, PA. November 4-8, 2007.
  • Poster presentation: “Genetic dissection of differential growth rates in Plasmodium falciparum in chloroquine resistant and sensitive progeny clones.” Abstract 319. Reilly, H., H. Wang, K. Wong, R. Easley, & M. Ferdig. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Washington D.C. December 11-15, 2005.
  • Paper presentation: “Differential growth rates in Plasmodium falciparum in chloroquine resistant and sensitive progeny clones.” Reilly, H., H. Wang, K. Wong, R. Easley, R. Cooper, & M. Ferdig. Young Investigator Award. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Washington D.C. December 11-15, 2005.
  • Poster presentation: “Genetic dissection of differential growth rates in Plasmodium falciparum.” Abstract 278. Reilly, H., H. Wang, J. Patel, J. Steuter, B. Deng, & M. Ferdig. American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH), Miami, FL. November 7-11, 2004.
  • Poster presentation: “Growth differences in two lines of Plasmodium falciparum.” No abstract number. Reilly, H., H. Wang, J. Steuter, J. Patel, B. Deng & M. Ferdig. Chicago Area Mycology and Parasitology (CAMP), Northwestern University Chicago, IL. September 2004.
  • Poster presentation: “Dissecting the heritable components of growth in erythrocyte-cultured Plasmodium falciparum parasites.” Abstract 275C. Reilly, H., J. Steuter, J. Patel, B. Deng, & M. Ferdig. Molecular Parasitology Meeting, Woods Hole, MA. September 14-18, 2003.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2012-2015)
  • Sigma Zeta National Science and Math Honor Society (2014-present)

I am interested in exploring how science and specifically Biology is taught as part of a liberal arts curriculum.

Dissertation: The genetic dissection of differential growth in Plasmodium falciparum and its relationship to chloroquine drug selection
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Laboratory research, University of Notre Dame, 2002-2007
Advisor: Michael T. Ferdig

  • Live cell culturing of Plasmodium falciparum, Development of P. falciparum growth assays, Measuring growth phenotypes in P. falciparum, Radio-labeled incorporation assay, Flow cytometry with P. falciparum, Quantitative trait loci mapping, Bioinformatics, Basic light microscopy techniques, DNA extractions, RNA extractions, Gel electrophoresis, Making cDNA, Real-time RT-PCR, Primer design and PCR, Drug testing in P. falciparum, Restriction fragment analysis