Laura (Kai) Burrus

Dr. Burrus is shifting her research from Wnt signaling to the role of microbes in climate resilience, with a particular focus on native Olympia oyster beds in San Francisco Bay. Just as the microbiome is now understood to be central to human health, shaping everything from immunity to disease resistance, microbial communities are also vital to oyster health, influencing how oysters grow, fight off pathogens, and withstand stressors such as warming waters and ocean acidification. Understanding these partnerships may prove key to restoring and protecting this foundational species in a changing climate.

This transition grows out of her lifelong love of the outdoors and her conviction that climate change is the most pressing issue of our time. Dr. Burrus is also acutely aware that climate change is inseparable from racial injustice. In the words of Hop Hopkins, "You can't have climate change without sacrifice zones, and you can't have sacrifice zones without disposable people, and you can't have disposable people without racism." Guided by this understanding, she co-founded and co-directs SFSU Climate HQ, a campus-wide hub for climate change and climate justice.

As one of five LGBTQIA faculty members in SFSU's Department of Biology, Dr. Burrus brings a distinctive perspective to her teaching and scholarship. She has collaborated on research examining how the language biology faculty use in the classroom shapes students' sense of belonging and inclusion.

• BIOL 230  Introductory Biology I
• BIOL 231 Advising for Success as a Biology Major
• BIOL 360/760 Cancer Biology
• BIOL 654 Peer Assistants for Learning Science (PALS)
• BIOL 681 Climate Change: Applied Learning for Real World Change
• BIOL 694 Cooperative Internship in Biology
• BIOL 699 Independent Study in Biology

Publications listed on the National Library of Medicine website.

I am a woman and a member of the LGBTQIA community. I am passionate about working with students and faculty from diverse backgrounds. In my free time, I love to be outside (hiking or biking), and I enjoy photography (check out my Instagram feed @outerlands_photography!).