Candace Bever
Board Member (Term 2019-2021)
US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service
Candace Bever is currently a Research Microbiologist with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. Her research interest is in the development of antibody-based (bioanalytical) technologies intended for human and environmental health applications. She accomplishes this by developing tools and methods to detect harmful chemicals. She is currently focusing her attention on developing tests for foodborne toxins, such as those produced by mushrooms (fungi) or bacteria. Prior to joining the ARS, she developed rapid, portable assays for industrial chemicals and naturally-derived environmental contaminants. In addition, she is committed to making science accessible to all audiences by translating scientific findings in ways that promote a greater understanding.
Candace received a BSc in Biological Sciences from Carnegie Mellon University where she took part in the student-initiated NASA’s Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program. She then completed a year of service as an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps team member. She holds a PhD from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science at the College of William & Mary where she developed a biosensor that is still being used today by academia and industry. Also in graduate school, she was selected as an NSF GK-12 PERFECT (Partnerships between Educators and Researchers for Enhancing Classroom Teaching) Fellow and participated in Project SeaCAMEL (Classroom Aquarius Marine Education Live), which ignited her desire for identifying ways to effectively communicate science. She then completed post-doctoral training at UC Davis where she held dual roles in developing immunoanalytical technologies to detect harmful chemicals and leading the research translation efforts for the UC Davis Superfund Research Program.
Candace’s passion for advancing science and communicating it effectively are strengths that she hopes to utilize while serving as a NorCal SETAC Board of Director. She yearns to give back and help lead a local chapter of a Society that is very valuable to its constituents and has continually been a leader in providing a forum for identifying and solving key environmental issues.