Where are they now? Meet William Navarre

Former FOSEP leaders pursue diverse careers at the intersection of science and society. FOSEP attracts graduate students and postdocs who are passionate about connecting scientific discovery and the use of new knowledge for the benefit of society. Nearly all credit FOSEP for influencing  their career choices, which span a wide range of fields and sectors. A series of posts will highlight the career paths of former FOSEP leaders.

William Navarre, Ph.D. is currently an assistant professor of microbiology in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the University of Toronto.  William joined FOSEP-Seattle as a post-doc shortly after its inception in 2004 and chaired the seminar series committee before becoming a director in 2005.  During his involvement in FOSEP through 2007, William juggled his commitments to FOSEP, family (newborn twins), and still managed to be an effective and well-published scientist. As the leader of an independent research laboratory in Toronto, William’s interests lie in infectious disease and uncovering exactly how bacteria make people or animals sick.  He credits his experience with FOSEP with giving him a broader view of the complex process by which science policy decisions are made and for developing leadership skills that come in handy for running his own lab.  He maintains an ongoing interest in policies and ethics regarding biosafety, vaccination, and antibiotic use.