Dr. Abigail Fish

Biological Safety Manager

Phone: 225-578-4658

afish5@lsu.edu

Abigail Fish currently serves as the Biological Safety Manager for the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) at Louisiana State University. The Biological Safety Manager oversees the EHS consultation and laboratory inspection program in support of the biological safety program.  These duties include inspection of biological research labs, review of lab protocols, and preparing reports on existing and proposed lab activities, including biosecurity-related and environmental aspects of the research.  Dr. Fish also provides support to the Inter-Institutional Biological and Recombinant DNA Safety Committee (IBRDSC) by reviewing protocols involving infectious agents, biological toxins, etiologic agents and recombinant DNA and providing guidance concerning personal protective equipment requirements and necessary bio-containment aspects of specific agents. In addition, she provides support to the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC)  by serving as a liaison between IBRDSC and IACUC.  

Dr. Fish received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biological Science from Louisiana State University.  She went on to pursue a doctoral degree in the Department of Pathobiological Sciences at the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine under the advisement of Dr. Juan Martinez.  Her research focused on characterizing the interaction of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsial Species, specifically Rickettsia conorii and R. rickettsii, with components of the innate immune system. Her dissertation entitled, “Characterization of the Interaction Between R. conorii and Human Host Vitronectin in Rickettsial Pathogenesis” can be found online in LSU’s digital commons.