Dr. Aarti Raja earned her Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Maryland in 2000, completed her postdoctoral work at Harvard Medical School and joined the faculty at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in 2012. She is an Associate Professor of Biology. Her areas of research include microbiology, and innovations in science education. Dr. Raja has over 12 years of research in the field of virology, specifically human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its proteins. Aarti collaborates with researchers from across the globe through Tiny Earth, a program that allows undergraduate students to engage in early research experiences and make antibiotic discoveries in soil bacteria. She also works with Science Alive which connects the college community with local schools to bring hands-on science education and learning opportunities to school age children. In addition to research and teaching, Aarti gained vast experience in the field of infectious diseases consulting for the pharmaceutical and financial industries.