Michelle A. Ozbun
She/Her
I am a lesbian and I am a molecular virologist and cancer biologist studying human papilloma virus (HPV) infections, how they establish persistent infections and contribute to cancer.//
I am the Maralyn S. Budke Endowed Professor in Viral Oncology at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. I hold academic appointments in the Departments of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology and Obstetrics & Gynecology. I am a co-leader of the Cell and Molecular Oncology Research Program at the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, the PI of the American Cancer Society’s Institutional Research Grant, and the Program Director of the NIH NIAID-Funded “Infectious Disease and Inflammation Program” (IDIP) T32 Training Program.
Research in my lab spans from the basic science molecular virology of human papillomavirus infections and cancer progression to efforts aimed at preventing HPV infections and treating HPV-induced tumors/cancers. My research group strives to challenge the status quo and dogma in the HPV field using all available methods for virion production and virus replication, and insisting upon biologically relevant cell, tissue, and animal models for the study of papillomavirus infections and pathogenesis.
I have been very fortunate to have been in supportive environments during my training as an OUT scientist and as a faculty member. I’m a feminist, wife (of another scientist), mother of two sons, and sports enthusiast. I enjoy traveling and exploring world cultures, cuisine, and libations!