Rate My Professor Bianca Mothé

Bianca Mothé is a Professor of Biology in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics at California State University, San Marcos, where she joined the faculty in fall 2003. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Pathology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and completed postdoctoral training at Epimmune, Inc. in San Diego. Mothé's research specializes in immunology and virology, focusing on the design of novel vaccines for rapidly mutating pathogens, including HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). Her work explores major histocompatibility complex (MHC) alleles, T-cell responses, and peptide-binding motifs in nonhuman primates. Key publications include "Peptide-binding motifs associated with MHC molecules common in Chinese rhesus macaques are analogous to those of human HLA supertypes and include HLA-B27-like alleles" (2013), "A shared MHC supertype motif emerges by convergent evolution in macaques and mice, but is totally absent in human MHC molecules" (2012), and "CD4+ T-cell Inhibitory Ligands: A Tool for characterizing dysfunctional CD4+ T cells during Chronic Infection" (2013). With over 5,400 citations, her contributions have advanced understanding of immune responses relevant to human vaccine development.

Mothé has held prominent leadership roles, including Program Director for the COMPASS Pathway and Bridges to STEM Cell Research programs, which provide hands-on training in regenerative medicine and biotechnology to diverse students. Under her direction, COMPASS secured a nearly $3 million, five-year grant from the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. She served as interim executive director of the California State University Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology (CSUPERB), emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2023, she received the Andreoli Faculty Service Award for her biotechnology service. Other honors include a four-year appointment to the NIH Vaccines Against Microbial Diseases Study Section starting in 2014 and a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award in Biology at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Brazil (2009-2010). Previously associate dean of Undergraduate Studies, she now works as a visiting scientist at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology while mentoring underrepresented students toward advanced degrees and research careers.