Dr. Craig Laufer

Dr. Craig Laufer is Associate Professor of Biology and Director of the Biomedical Science Graduate Program at Hood College.  From 1997 until 2002 he served as the Chairperson of the Department of Biology.  He joined the Hood faculty in 1988.  Prior to that he was a postdoctoral research associate and then Instructor in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
   At Hood Dr. Laufer primarily teaches in the areas of microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry.  He is an active participant in the American Society for Microbiology’s efforts to further microbiology education.  He has spoken at the annual meeting of ASM on critical thinking in the undergraduate microbiology course, initiated the annual Mid-Atlantic Microbiology Educator’s conference and serves as a reviewer for the journal Microbiology Education.  He is a frequent contributor to the workshops offered by the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences at NIH, Bethesda, giving instruction on techniques in molecular biology.
   His research interests include the biochemistry and genetics of DNA/protein interactions and the use of in vitro directed evolution to study the structure and function of pectin methylesterases.
   He holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Kent State University and a B.S. in biochemistry and zoology from the University of Maryland, College Park.