Professor Willner is an Associate Teaching Professor in Data Science. Her background is in microbial ecology, the study of the human microbiome - the bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that co-exist in our bodies. This specialization blends biology and computational sciences. As a teaching faculty member, she incorporates her experiences into courses to engage students from many disciplines and finds learning from her students inevitable and inspiring. Professor Willner finds getting to work with creative, passionate students the most rewarding aspect of working at William & Mary and is always delighted to discuss research topics with them.