Dr. Jennifer Robbins

Dr. Robbins earned her PhD in Biochemistry from Stanford University School of Medicine in 2001. During her time at Xavier she has also held visiting faculty or visiting scientist positions at University of California San Francisco (Pediatrics), University of California Berkeley (Plant and Microbial Biology), and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (Internal Medicine). An infectious diseases biologist, her research has mostly focused on placental pathogens that harm women and their fetuses during pregnancy. She has also worked on public health problems in the filed of HIV and health disparities.

As chair, Dr. Robbins is not currently doing laboratory work; her research now is engaged in student success. She was the original project director for Xavier's Inclusive Excellence 3 grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. and has obtained multiple other grants to support the department's work in reducing structural barriers for students from historically excluded backgrounds, as well as improve departmental curricula in other ways.