Louisiana Tech University has appointed Dr. Rebecca Giorno-McConnell as the new associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences.
“After a comprehensive review of both internal and external candidates by the ANS Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies Search Committee, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Giorno-McConnell as associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Applied and Natural Sciences,” said Dr. Gary Kennedy, dean of the College of Applied and Natural Sciences. “Dr. Giorno-McConnell brings extensive research expertise and a strong record of mentoring graduate students. Her funded investigations of anthrax spores represent significant contributions to the field, with important implications for bioterrorism preparedness. We look forward to the leadership and vision she will bring to this role.”
Giorno-McConnell, a long-standing faculty member in the School of Biological Sciences, has built a research career spanning microbial ecology, spore biology, and antimicrobial discovery. Her work has been funded by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network, NASA EPSCoR, and LaSPACE, among other agencies. She has published more than a dozen academic works and contributed to over 50 conference presentations, with students leading many of those presentations.
Her collaborative projects include investigating microbial survival in extreme environments such as salt marshes and cold seeps in the Gulf of America, exploring antimicrobial peptides to combat antibiotic resistance, and supporting space biology initiatives that connect Louisiana Tech with NASA partners. Through the Tiny Earth program, Giorno-McConnell also provides undergraduate students with authentic research opportunities in antibiotic discovery, making Louisiana Tech the only public research university in Louisiana to offer the program.
As a mentor, Giorno-McConnell has supervised graduate students at both the master’s and doctoral levels, advised more than 40 undergraduates, and coauthored publications with former students. She has also played an active role in service at the University, including leadership on curriculum, graduate, and research committees.
“I am excited to continue serving Louisiana Tech in this new role,” Giorno-McConnell said. “Research and graduate studies are essential to our mission, and I look forward to supporting faculty in building collaborations, securing external funding, and mentoring the next generation of scientists and professionals.”