Salwa Al-Noori

Associate Teaching Professor

Location: INV-240L
Phone: 425-352-3514
Email: saan@uw.edu

Background

Dr. Al-Noori completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Baylor College of Medicine in 2000. Her doctoral work centered on studying the cellular mechanisms underlying the selective vulnerability of hippocampal interneurons to excitotoxic injury. Since that time, she has worked for the University of Washington at Seattle and Bothell in a variety of different research and teaching roles.

With a focus on collaborative learning, she aims to engage students by fostering an environment that supports student-centered inquiry-based learning. She believes that a multi-disciplinary approach engages students through perspectives and supports communication of knowledge so that it is accessible to all.

Research

Giardia is a widespread intestinal parasite responsible for foodborne and waterborne diarrhea in humans, livestock, and companion animals, contributing to over 200 million cases of giardiasis each year. Its life cycle alternates between two stages: the motile trophozoite and the dormant cyst, formed through the process of encystation. Despite extensive research, the triggers of encystation and the mechanisms behind Giardia’s antimicrobial resistance remain poorly understood. With its streamlined genome and well-established in vitro encystation model, Giardia serves as an excellent system for exploring the molecular mechanisms regulating encystation and antibiotic resistance. My research aims to unravel the roles of cAMP and Ca2+ signaling in encystation and their contribution to antimicrobial resistance.

Education

Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, TX
Ph.D. – Neuroscience