Kristine Dye

Assistant Professor

Kristine Dye, PhD, is a virologist and molecular/cellular biologist who investigates mechanisms by which viruses perturb normal cellular functions resulting in the development of disease and/or cancer. She believes having the perspective of disease allows you to gain a greater understanding and appreciation for the beauty and complexity of biology. She has a strong belief that topics relating to virology, immunology, molecular/cellular biology, evolution and cancer should be accessible and explored by everyone, rather than the few. Such understanding allows students to view the world, and its current issues and discoveries, in a different, more appreciable light. 

  • PhD, Pathobiology, University of Washington
  • BS, Microbiology, Brigham Young University - Idaho

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Kristine Dye

Biography

After growing up in Florida, Kristine Dye, PhD, moved to the North West to attend Brigham Young University - Idaho. As an undergraduate, she was unsure of what career to pursue until she was introduced to microbiology as an undergraduate elective course. Dye fell in love with microbiology and quickly changed her major to biology with a minor in microbiology, became the university microbiology tutor for the next three years, and began researching Herpes Simplex Virus reactivation with Dr. Seth Ririe before graduating with a BS in biology with a minor in microbiology. From here, Dye went on to pursue her PhD in the interdisciplinary pathobiology PhD program at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. There, she continued her work studying viruses with an emphasis on viruses that cause cancer at the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center with Dr. Denise Galloway. 

Dye's primary research interest is elucidating mechanisms of cellular transformation and tumorigenesis by Merkel cell polyomavirus, the etiologic agent of 80% of Merkel cell carcinomas, a skin cancer 3x more deadly than melanoma. While in graduate school, Dye continued practicing her love of teaching working as a TA, mentoring graduate, undergraduate and high school teachers in the lab, and teaching undergraduate courses at UW. She also was accepted and participated in the Science Teaching Experience Program (STEP) and Science Education Partnership (SEP) during her time at UW. In 2020, she graduated with a PhD in pathobiology from the University of Washington, before starting her career at Stetson University.

More About Kristine Dye

Area of Expertise

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cancer
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Evolution

Course Sampling

  • Virology of Spillover
  • Immunology and Vaccinology
  • Introductory Biology I
  • Senior Research
  • Health and Wellness

  • Merkel Cell Polyomavirus mediated cellular transformation
  • SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater quantification and whole genome sequencing
  • Antibody dynamics post SARS-CoV-2 vaccination series

  • Dye K.N., Welcker M., Clurman B.E., Roman A., Galloway D.A. Merkel cell polyomavirus Tumor antigens expressed in Merkel cell carcinoma function independently of the ubiquitin ligases Fbw7 and beta-TrCP. PLoS Pathog. 2019;15:e1007543. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1007543.