Contact Information
Bio
Dr. Kara Mosovsky is currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biology at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., and an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Moravian University, Bethlehem, Pa. Her disciplinary expertise is in immunology and infectious disease (M.S.) and microbiology (Ph.D.), and additionally, she has developed a strong background in high-impact pedagogical practices, program and curriculum revision, and student-centered learning.
At Moravian University, her bench-level research focuses on using a combination of antibiotics and immune stimulants to enhance clearance of intracellular bacterial infections. During her time at the U.S. Air Force Academy her research goals are to focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), specifically, on pedagogical practices and curriculum development that enhance undergraduate learning and engagement in the classroom. She enjoys experimenting with different pedagogical practices, especially evidence-based practices supported by the science of learning.
Education
Ph.D., Microbiology, Colorado State University (2014)
M.S. Immunology and Infectious Disease, The Pennsylvania State University (2010)
B.S. Animal Bioscience, The Pennsylvania State University (2010)
Professional Experience
Distinguished Visiting Professor, U.S. Air Force Academy (2025-Present)
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences, Moravian University (2015-Present)
Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, Moravian University (2022-2025)
Adjunct Instructor, Front Range Community College (2014-2015)
Honors & Awards
Deep Teaching Residency Fellow (2022-2023)
Biology Scholars Program: Assessment Residency Fellow (2016-2017)
Research and Scholarly Interests
Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (Alternative Grading, Vaccines)
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Intracellular Bacterial Infections
Publications
Pomposello MN*, Nemes K*, Mosovsky K (2020). Dietary Antioxidant Seleno-L-Methionine Protects Macrophages During Infection with Burkholderia thailandensis. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0238174. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0238174
Mosovsky, K. 2020. Colds, Flu, And COVID-19. Inside Moravian.
Mosovsky K (2019). The Use of a Fast-Paced, Competitive Drawing Game as a Student-Approved Review Strategy for Microbiology. Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education 19 (3): 19.3.107.
Mosovsky K (2019). Time to Branch Out. Science 364 (6444): 1002.
Collins, C*, Mosovsky K (2018). Antibiotic Tolerance: Distinguishing between Classical Resistance and Persistence in a Macrophage Infection Model. Fine Focus 4 (1): 117-129. https://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/201332
Mosovsky K, Silva E, Troyer R, Propst-Graham K, Dow S (2014). Interaction of IFN-γ Induced Reactive Oxygen Species with Ceftazidime Leads to Synergistic Killing of Intracellular Burkholderia. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 58 (10): 5954-63.
Chen Q, Mosovsky KL, Ross AC (2013). Retinoic acid and α-galactosylceramide regulate the expression of costimulatory receptors and transcription factors responsible for B cell activation and differentiation. Immunobiology, 218 (12): 1477–1487.
Chen Q, Mosovsky KL, Ross AC (2011). Retinoic acid and α-galactosylceramide differentially regulate B cell activation in vitro and augment antibody production in vivo. Clinical Vaccine Immunology, 18(6): 1015-20.