Lisa Sardinia, PhD, JD

Course Information

At Pacific University, all faculty teach a variety of different courses. Typically, we do not use graduate teaching assistants, which means that your classes will be taught by professors and that you will have plenty of opportunities to get to know the faculty in your discipline.

Below I have listed some of the courses that I teach. We are always developing and trying out new classes, so the list may change now and then. 

OPT 500 | Basic Science for Optometry

OPT 500L | Basic Science for Optometry Lab

Education

Juris Doctor, University of California-Hastings College of Law, San Francisco, Calif., in 1996.

PhD in Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., in 1985

Bachelor of Science in Biology, Whitworth College, Spokane, Wash., in 1979

Research Interests:

Students in my Microbiology course conduct research to determine microbial metabolic diversity in water samples from Chehalem Ridge Natural Area and Fernhill Wetlands.  The students analyze the data, determine the best way to display the data, and work together to prepare government agency reports for Metro and Clean Water Services.

I am passionate about promoting community engagement in science through translational science, translating basic research into a format usable by individuals other than the basic researchers themselves. I regularly present at events such as Science Pub, Science on Tap, Portland Humanists Society, and various healthcare organizations on topics including the human gut microbiome, epigenetics, stem cell research, and genetic testing.

Published Works

Sardinia, L.M. 2008. "Bacteria;" "Ebola Virus;" "Electrophoresis." All in Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, Salem Press, Calif.

Sardinia, L.M. 2005. "Legionnaires’ disease." In The Seventies in America. Salem Press, Calif.

Sardinia, L.M. 2005. "Bolling v. Sharpe;" "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People v. Alabama." Both in The 50s in America. Salem Press, Calif.

Sardinia, L.M. 2004. "Pedigree Analysis;" "Genome size;" "Stem Cells." All in Encyclopedia of Genetics, Revised Edition, SalemPress, Calif.

Sardinia, LM. 2002. "Prokaryotes;" "Genetic Code." Both in Magill’s Encyclopedia of Science: Plant Life, Salem Press, Calif.

Sardinia, L.M. 2001. "Bioluminescence;" "Jellyfish;" Both in Magill’s Encyclopedia of Science: Animal Life, Salem Press, Calif.

Sardinia, L.M. 2000. "Americans with Disabilities Act;" "Durable Power of Attorney;" "Rhinophyma." All in Aging, Salem Press, Calif.

Undergraduate Student Researchers

Claire Bock, Kelle Miyama, Janelle Sabugo, Lisa Sardinia.  2016.  "Microbiological Analysis of Two Streams at Chehalem Ridge Natural Area: A Report to Metro."

Steve Allen, Christina Bone, Lila Bowe, Shalini Chedi, Cameron Chow, Justin DeMers, Kara Ebisuya, Hayato Fujita, Emily Geddes, Velen Gonzalez, Maddie Meltebeke, Makai Nance, Kevin Nguyen, Katie Oliver, Jaquari People, Cyann Pestka, Claire Pillsbury, Kamryn Plechot, Fern Pratuangvijtkul, Jaynie Quirk, Janae Rasmussen, Kayla Roth, Kassandra Sanchez, Ellyssa Szlavich, Katherine Tougas, Erik Turner, Janel Valdez, Ben Weeder, Landon Weimar, Kylie Yamada, Trevor Yamagata, Anthony Zerkel, Lisa Sardinia. 2015.  "Analysis of Microbiological Activity in Two Streams at Chehalem Ridge Natural Area: A Report to Metro."

Robinson, P.N.,* A.M. Erickson,* D.T. Gundersen and L.M. Sardinia. 2009. "Gene Expression in Polyodon spathula: A Fishy Approach." Murdock Undergraduate Research Conference, Spokane, Wash.

Vingoe, J.A., *A.M. Barclay,* L.M. Sardinia and D. Gundersen. 2008. "Fishing for gene expression in Polyodon spathula." Murdock Undergraduate Research Conference, Tacoma, Wash. 

Sardinia, L.M., Gundersen, D.T., Fitzmorris, R.* and K. Enghusen.* 2008. "Investigation of the lack of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression in paddlefish (Polyodon spathula)." Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Seattle, Wash.

Fitzmorris, R.,* L. Sardinia, D. Gundersen and K. Enghusen.* 2008. "Investigation of the lack of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression in paddlefish." National Meeting of the American Chemical Society, New Orleans, La.

Fitzmorris, R.*, L. Sardinia and D. Gundersen. 2007. "Investigation of the lack of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression in paddlefish." Murdock Undergraduate Research Conference, Salem, Ore.

Merz, M.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2006. "Testing resistance of oculopathogenic bacteria in biofilms to fourth-generation fluoroquinolones." Northwest Undergraduate Science Research Conference, OHSU, Portland, Ore.

Bartman, E.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2006. "Bacterial survey of a local assisted living facility." Northwest Undergraduate Science Research Conference, OHSU, Portland, Ore.

Gordon, H.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2006. "The search for pathogenic islands in the coronavirus genome." Northwest Undergraduate Science Research Conference, OHSU, Portland, Ore.

Foster, S. L.* and L.M. Sardinia, 2005. "A comparison of fourth-generation fluoroquinolones on oculopathogenic bacteria." Oregon Academy of Sciences, Corvallis, Ore.

Sapinoro, R.E.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2001. "Inhibition of growth of pathogenic microorganisms by North and Central American plant extracts." American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Calif.

Null, M.D.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2001. "The inhibitory effects of essential oils on Burkholderia cepacia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa." American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, San Francisco, Calif.

Kim, L.A.K.* and L.M. Sardinia. 2001. "The inhibitory effects of Naupaka kahakai extracts on various pathogenic microorganisms." Oregon Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Portland, Ore. 

Takamoto, T.T*. and L.M. Sardinia. 2001. "Effects of traditionally used Hawaiian and Mexican medicinal plants on the growth of pathogenic microorganisms." Oregon Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting, Portland, Ore.

Harrington, J.M.* and L.M. Sardinia, 1999. "Effect of traditionally used medicinal plant extracts on the growth of pathogenic bacteria." International Conference on Ethnomedicine and Drug Discovery, Silver Spring, Md.

Invited Presentations

Science On Tap
The Human Gut Microbiome:  Me and 100,000,000,000,000 of My Closest Friends

Portland Humanists Society
Epigenetics: The "Other" Genetic Code
Combating Cancer with Epigenetic Therapies
Behavioral Epigenetics

Oregon Oral Health Coalition Annual Meeting-keynote speaker
Epigenetics" Why Grandmothers are Important

Statewide Annual WIC Conference
The Human Gut Microbiome: Do These Bacteria Make Me Look Fat?

Science and Society Lecture Series, Whitworth College
The Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics and Public Policy

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Science Pub
Genetic Testing: Do You Really Want to Know What’s in Your Genes? 
The Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics and Public Policy
Epigenetics: Merger of Nature and Nurture

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry Brainstorm: Engaging With the Experts
The Stem Cell Debate: Science, Ethics and Public Policy

Centura Health Hospital Consortium Institutional Review Boards and Ethics Committees Annual Conference
Genetics and Ethics (1-day workshop on genetic testing and privacy and stem cell research)

Oregon Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting (Continuing Medical Education)
Genetic Testing and Ethics

Willamette University Institute for Continued Learning
Stem Cell Research
Epigenetics: The “Other” Genetic Code
This is your brain...this is your brain on parasites

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Genetic Testing and Ethics

Lane Institute of Faith and Education 
Genetic Testing and Ethics

MENSA Regional Gathering—keynote speaker
Epigenetics: The “Other” Genetic Code

Portland Nerd Night
Got Parasites?