Dr. Rhodes' research focuses on the mechanisms bacteria use to develop and maintain communities within mammalian hosts. She is particularly interested in how these factors dictate the outcome of host-bacteria interaction in human adapted Neisseria species. As a Postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Maggie So of BIO5, she is working on projects to 1.) Characterize the role of the Type IV Pilus in Neisseria colonization and persistence using a natural model of infection in mice 2.) Identify new host interaction factors required for Neisseria carriage, and 3.) Examine the impact of the female reproductive tract microbiota on Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection dynamics.