Assistant Professor of Microbiology and PATH Group Leader

Outside of professional life (plenty of details in the CV below) I love the outdoors and the beach.  I also enjoy music of all kinds. Playing the guitar is an old past time of mine that I still manage to find time for. Traveling and new experiences are a thrill that often go along with the global health work the group does.  scholar.google.com/citations?user=w0nSthcAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao 

Prashant Dahal, a dedicated Microbiology PhD student at UH Manoa under Dr. Michael Norris, originates from Nepal. With a fervor for microbiology, his research focus spans pathogenic organisms, antimicrobial resistance, and infectious disease, particularly Burkholderia pseudomallei. Passionate about trekking, cooking, and exploring new things, Prashant finds his true calling in a microbiology laboratory. He aims to contribute valuable insights to the global understanding of antimicrobial resistance, pneumonia, and novel antimicrobials.  

I am a PhD student under supervision of Asst.Prof. Michael Norris. I obtained my Master’s degree in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics at Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai campus, Thailand. I have experience in performing molecular techniques, and analyzing genomes and transcriptomes of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Pacific white shrimp using bioinformatics tools. I am interested in bacterial pathogenesis, interactions between host and pathogens, and/or immunology.

I am MD SAMUN SARKER, PhD student in Microbiology at the UH Manoa. I have completed my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and MS in Microbiology from Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), Bangladesh. Later on, I have completed my MS in Veterinary Public Health from Chiang Mai University, Thailand. I am interested in One Health, antimicrobial resistance, host-pathogen interactions and bacterial pathogenesis. I am passionate about traveling and hiking.  

I’m an undergraduate student at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in microbiology. Throughout my college journey I have maintained a deep fascination with the study of infectious diseases, virology, and vaccine development. These interests led me to the PATH group and research into cell structural gene knockouts to highlight novel pathogen-host interactions. This investigation, spearheaded by Dr. Norris and his PhD students, will equip me with the knowledge and skills necessary for achieving my future goals as a microbiologist. My primary aim is to someday work for Pfizer and develop vaccines for humanity's deadliest diseases.

I am an undergraduate student at UH Manoa majoring in Biology with a strong interest in infectious diseases and immunology. I’m excited to learn more molecular techniques and research skills that will help me better understand pathogen interactions and disease mechanism. Outside of academics, I enjoy going to the beach and exploring new foods with friends. My goal is to become a physician and work in underserved areas, where I can make a difference by improving healthcare access and outcomes for underrepresented communities.

I’m an undergraduate student here at UH Manoa and I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. Some of my hobbies include baking, swimming and bowling. I’m intrigued by the field of pathology, specifically related to viruses and bacteria. This is why I’m excited to work under Dr. Michael Norris to work with Burkholderia, specifically gene knockouts and the effect of these on immunosuppressive regulation in this bacteria. I love working in the lab and learning new techniques, and I’m eager to learn more about this field. Eventually, I’d like to work in a research/clinical lab to help find cures for infectious diseases (i.e. vaccines).