Dr. Vivian Padín-Irizarry

Associate Professor

Office: Lakeview Discovery and Science Center 135C
Biology
College of Arts & Sciences
VivianPadin-Irizarry@clayton.edu
Phone: (678) 466-4779

Biography

Vivian Padín-Irizarry, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Biology at Clayton State University, where she also serves as Biology Learning Assistant Coordinator. She earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Medical Zoology from the University of Puerto Rico, Medical Science Campus, and completed postdoctoral research at the University of Georgia’s Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases. Her teaching portfolio spans courses in microbiology, parasitology, cellular and molecular biology, immunology, and biochemistry.

Dr. Padín-Irizarry’s research focuses on antimicrobial resistance in environmental reservoirs. She has secured competitive grants, mentored numerous undergraduate researchers, and presented at regional and national conferences.

Committed to advancing STEM education, she has participated in initiatives such as the Learning Assistant Program and served on multiple curriculum and search committees. Recognized for excellence in teaching and service, she has been nominated for the Alice Smith Award and Teacher of the Year.

Education

Ph D, Molecular Biology of Malaria, University of Puert Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, 2015

BS, Microbiology, University of Puerto Rico, 2006

Intellectual Contributions

Steven P Maher, Malina A Bakowski, Amélie Vantaux, Erika L Flannery, Chiara Andolina, Mohit Gupta, Yevgeniya Antonova-Koch, Magdalena Argomaniz, Monica Cabrera-Mora, Brice Campo, Alexander T Chao, Arnab K Chatterjee, Wayne T Cheng, Vorada Chuenchob, Caitlin A Cooper, Karissa Cottier, Mary R Galinski, Anke Harupa-Chung, Hana Ji, Sean B Joseph, Todd Lenz, Stefano Lonardi, Jessica Matheson, Sebastian A Mikolajczak, Timothy Moeller, Agnes Orban, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Kastin Pan, Julie Péneau, Jacques Prudhomme, Camille Roesch, Anthony Ruberto, Saniya S Sabnis, Celia L Saney, Jetsumon Sattabongkot, Saleh Sereshki, Sangrawee Suriyakan, Ratawan Ubalee, Yinsheng Wang, Praphan Wasisakun, Jiekai Yin, Jean Popovici, Case W McNamara, Chester Joyner, François H Nosten, Benoît Witkowski, Karine G Le Roch, Dennis E Kyle, A drug repurposing approach reveals targetable epigenetic pathways in Plasmodium vivax hypnozoites, eLife – September 30 2025

Andrii Andrii Monastyrskyi, Fabian Brockmeyer, Alexis N LaCrue, Yingzhao Zhao, Steven P Maher, Jordany R Maignan, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Yana I Sakhno, Prakash T Parvatkar, Ami H Asakawa, Lili Huang, Debora Casandra, Sherwin Mashkouri, Dennis E Kyle, Roman Manetsch, Aminoalkoxycarbonyloxymethyl Ether Prodrugs with a pH- Triggered Release Mechanism: A Case Study Improving the Solubility, Bioavailability, and Efficacy of Antimalarial 4(1H)‐Quinolones with Single Dose Cures, Journal of Medicinal Chemistry – May 12 2021

Cynthia L Lichorowic, Yingzhao Zhao, Steven P Maher, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Victoria C Mendiola, Sagan T de Castro, Jacob A Worden, Deborah Casandra, Dennis E Kyle, Roman Manetsch, Synthesis of Mono- and Bisperoxide-Bridged Artemisinin Dimers to Elucidate the Contribution of Dimerization to Antimalarial Activity, ACS Infectious Diseases – April 1 2021

Ho Ning Wong, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Mariëtte E. van der Watt, Janette Reader, Wilna Liebenberg, Lubbe Wiesner, Peter Smith, Korina Eribez, Elizabeth A. Winzeler, Dennis E. Kyle, Lyn-Marie Birkholtz, Dina Coertzen, Richard K. Haynes, Optimal 10-Aminoartemisinins With Potent Transmission-Blocking Capabilities for New Artemisinin Combination Therapies–Activities Against Blood Stage P. falciparum Including PfKI3 C580Y Mutants and Liver Stage P. berghei Parasites, Frontiers in Chemistry – January 10 2020

Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Emilee E. Colón-Lorenzo, Joel Vega-Rodríguez, María del Castro, Ricardo González-Méndez, Sylvette Ayala-Peña, Adelfa E. Serrano, Glutathione-deficient Plasmodium berghei parasites exhibit growth delay and nuclear DNA damage, Free Radical Biology and Medicine – June 2016

Contracts, Grants, and Sponsored Research

Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Clint Edmunds, Characterizing and Sequencing Environmental Bacteria to Investigate Antimicrobial Resistance, Clayton State University, Clayton State University, 2000, Funded – January 2026 to December 2026

Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Clint Edmunds, Understanding the impact of trace mineral concentration on in vitro bacterial growth. , Clayon State University, Clayton State University, 2000, Funded – August 2023 to August 2024

Vivian Padin-Irizarry, Quantify basal levels of oxidative stress in lab-reared Daphnia magna and after exposure to different concentrations of copper., Clayon State University, Clayton State University, 1000, Funded – August 2021 to May 2022

Presentations

Elizabeth Suraty, Clint E. Edmunds, Paul Melvin, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, A: Environmental Reservoirs of Antimicrobial Resistance: A Case Study from Reynolds Nature Preserve Water Source, Summer 2025 Experiential Learning Forum, School of Sciences - Clayton State University – July 25 2025

Tyler Zihlmann, Clint E. Edmunds, Paul Melvin, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, B: Evaluating Natural Resistance: Bacterial Isolates from Reynolds Nature Preserve, Summer 2025 Experiential Learning Forum, School of Sciences - Clayton State University – July 25 2025

Michael D Jones II, Clint Edmunds, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, A: Impact of Different Trace Minerals on the Growth of Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae, Spring 2024 Research and Internship Symposium, School of Sciences - Clayton State University – April 26 2024

Rida Aijaz, Vivian Padin-Irizarry, A. Impact of Trace Mineral Zinc on the Growth of Escherichia coli. , Fall 2024 SoS Research and Internship Symposium, School of Sciences - Clayton State University – November 22 2024

Brittany Prosser , Vivian Padin-Irizarry, B. Impact of Copper on the Growth of E. coli. , Fall 2024 SoS Research and Internship Symposium, School of Sciences - Clayton State University – November 22 2024

Service to the University & University System of Georgia

Department, Atlanta Science Festival Committee, Committee Member – February 22 2024 to March 22 2024

College, Gene Hatfield Service of the Year Award Committee , Committee Member – January 10 2021 to May 2024

Department, Search Committee Tenure-track Professor Biology , Committee Chair – January 2024 to June 2024

Department, Biology Curriculum Committee , Committee Chair – August 10 2022 to July 10 2023

Department, Biology Department CURE committee, Committee Member – August 2020 to May 2021

College, CAS Research and Internship Symposium Planning Committee, Committee Chair – December 1 2023

University, IRB, Committee Member – August 2022 to July 2024

College, Student Success Conference Day , Committee Member – April 28 2023 to Present

Service to the Profession

Attendee, Meeting, Georgia Academy of Science, Inc January 2024 to Present

Member, National Association of Biology Teachers February 2021 to Present

Teaching Interest

My teaching interests span foundational and advanced topics in the life sciences, including Principles of Biology, Microbiology, Parasitology, Bioterrorism, Immunology, and Biochemistry. Guided by my philosophy to educate, support, and inspire a diverse community of learners, I strive to create flexible learning environments where students can progress at their own pace. I integrate diverse instructional methods to ensure students gain not only the scientific knowledge and technical skills needed for the workforce but also the confidence and motivation to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Through these courses, I aim to cultivate critical thinking, scientific literacy, and a sense of responsibility that extends beyond the classroom, ultimately preparing students to impact the world positively

Research Interest

My research focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in natural freshwater environments and its implications for public health. Access to clean drinking water remains a global challenge, not only in distribution but also in maintaining microbial quality. Freshwater systems can harbor bacteria with pathogenic traits and intrinsic resistance, posing risks to human and ecological health. To address these concerns, I investigate environmental bacterial isolates using classical microbiological techniques, such as aseptic sampling, culture-based isolation, Gram staining, and biochemical profiling, alongside antibiotic susceptibility testing via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, interpreted under CLSI/EUCAST standards. For definitive identification, selected isolates undergo DNA extraction and sequencing. We aim to characterize resistance patterns and contextualize findings within health frameworks, highlighting the urgent need for environmental AMR surveillance and its role in mitigating emerging microbial threats.