MCB Students

Ama Amoakoma Agyei
Hometown: Amoanda, Ghana
Undergradaute: University of Ghana 
Graduate: University of Ghana 
Research Interests: Microbiology, Virology, Inflammation and IMmunity
Project: Molecular mechanisms underlying HSV-1 and HSV-2 lytic infection in mature symapthetic superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons 

Cassandra Poole
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Undergraduate: Longwood University (B.S. in Biological Science, James Madison Univeristy (B.S. in Mathematics)
Graduate: Boston University (M.A. in Teaching Mathematics)
Research Interests: Cell Signaling and Cancer, Inflammation and Immunity
Project: Investigating the immunogenic effects of High-Frequency Irreversible Electroporation (H-FIRE) in the treatment of breast cancer

Chelsea Buhler
Hometown: Dobbs Ferry, New York
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. in Neuroscience
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Neuroendocrinology, Neurobiology in behavioral contexts
Project: Characterizing exercise-induced alterations to hippocampal oscillatory dynamics for their role in encoding the motivation for physical activity

Foster Agyei
Hometown: Berekum, Ghana
B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Ghana
Research Interests: Microbiology, Molecular Biology
Project: Bacterial chemotaxis and motility 

Ghazal Soleymani
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Undergraduate: Islamic Azad University - Tehran Medican Branch, Iran
Research Interests: Microbiology and Virology
Project: Working on the discovery of a drug to treat antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius using different methods:          1- Canine skin commensal 2- Pharmacogenomics 3- High throughput screening

Grace Atkinson
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina (B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)
Research Interests: Cell Signaling, Immunology
Project: Investigating mechanisms that maintain low-grade inflammation and innate immune memory in monocytes

Himadri Sunam
Hometown: Kalimpong, West Bengal, India 
Undergraduate: North Bengal University, Bachelor of Science                                                                                                                                Graduate: Sikkim Manipal University, Masters in Human Anatomy
Research Interests: Cancer biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics
Project: Functional characterization of young testis-biased X-linked genes in malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Isabella Foriska
Hometown: Girard, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: MercyHurst University, Biology B.S. with a minor in chemistry 
Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms underlying microbial processes and microbial genomics
Project: Polymicrobial interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and skin commensals within the biofilms that form in chronic wound environments

Livia Osbun
Hometown: Lansing, Michigan
Undergraduate: Rollins College, B.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology                                                                                                              Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics
Project: Identification and validation of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the bacterial type IV pilus

Marija Corluka
Hometown: Split, Croatia
Undergraduate: St. Olaf College, B.A. in Chemistry
Research Interests: Microbiology and Virology, Immunology and Inflammation
Project: Elucidating the intramolecular regulation of Phafin2 in membrane targeting and macropinocytosis progression

Rita Makhlouf
Hometown: Baakafra, Lebanon
B.S. and M.S. in Biological Sciences from Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
Research Interests: Microbiology, Virology, Gut microbiome
Project: Engineering temperate phages for a genetic-based anti-virulence

Samir Chethan
Hometown: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Undergraduate: Penn State University, B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Interests: Cell cycle control, Molecular biology, Microscopy, Cancer
Project: Expression dynamics of cyclin B

Sehasree Mohanta
Hometown: Raiganj, India
Undergraduate: Indian Association for Cultivation of Science, India; Intergrated Bachelor's- Master's (B.S.-M.S.) in science (Major Biological Sciences) 
Research Interests: Cell and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Biochemistry and Genetics
Project: Metastasis supportive intercellular communications sustained through secreted proteins and exosome.

Shreya Choudhary
Hometown: Kolkata, India
Undergraduate: R.V. College of Engineering, B.Tech. in Biotechnology
Research Interests: Microbiology, Genetics, Biochemistry
Project: Evolutionary covariation analysis of germination specific proteins to predict possible interacting region

Taylor Nolen
Hometown: Swedesboro, NJ
Undergraduate: Rowan University (B.S. Biologial Sciences)
Research Interests: Microbiology and Virology
Project: Investigating the mechanisms of Zika virus sexual transmission

AnnaLin Woo
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. in Neuroscience
Research Interests: Neurobiology, Cell Signaling and Cancer, Inflammation and Immunity
Project: Roles of astrocytes and perineuronal nets in excitotoxicity and epilepsy
New position: Graduate student at the University of Virginia (moving with the Sontheimer lab)

Beatriz Pinkston
Ph.D. 2024
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Undergraduate: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, B.S. Psychology and Neuroscience
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Cell Signaling, Cancer, Immunology
New position: Breaking into the role of Medical Science Liaison

Becca Salgado
M.S. 2021
Hometown: Lake Forest, California
Undergraduate: Point Loma Nazarene University, B.S. in Biology
Research Interests: Infectious disease, immunology, virology, and public health
New position: Virology research associate at the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

Brieann Brown                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Ph.D. 2026                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hometown: Grayling, Michigan                                                                                                                                                                                        Undergraduate: University of Michigan, B.S. in Biology, Health, and Society; B.S. in Psychology                                                                                Research Interests: Early stage drug development, Chronic pain, Immunology

Earl Gilbert
Ph.D. 2024
Hometown: Alexandria, Virginia
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. Neuroscience and Biology
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Genetics
New position: Postdoctoral fellow (with English lab)

Elizabeth Shupe
Ph.D. 2023
Hometown: Leonardtown, Maryland
Undergraduate: St. Mary's College, B.S. in Biology and Biochemistry
Research Interests: Neurobiology, Inflammation and Immunity, Cell Signaling and Cancer 
New Position: Patent examiner at U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Erik Akbar
Hometown: Chesterfield, Virginia
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. in Nanoscience and Neuroscience
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Spatial Memory, Plasticity
Currently: Re-assessing personal priorities; reading, skill development, and having fun outside a lab

Evan Littleton                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Ph.D. 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia                                                                                                                                                                          Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. in Biological Sciences                                                                                                                                                  Research Interests: Molecular Biology, Genetics                                                                                                                                                                          New Position: Postdoctoral fellow at University of Maryland

Hailey Bullard
M.S. 2026                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hometown: Troutman, North Carolina                                                                                                                                                    Undergraduate: Appalachian State University, B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology                                                                                                  Research Interests: Cancer work, Virology, Neurology                                                                                                                                                              Project: Vector competence of Japanese encephalitis virus in Culex species mosquitoes

Ian Taylor
M.S. 2026                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Hometown: Hampstead, NC
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A. Biological Sciences)
Research Interests: Microbiology and Virology
Project: Development of Semliki Forest virus as an oncolytic virus treatment for glioblastoma, both through directed evolution and by introducing anticancer protein sequences into the viral genome

Jessie Rogers
M.S. 2021
Hometown: Appomattox, VA
Undergraduate: Liberty University, B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology
Research Interests: Cell biology, cell growth and division
New position: High school teacher and science mentor

Jing Ju
Ph.D. 2024                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hometown: Nanjng, China
Undergraduate: Nanjing Medical University, B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Graduate: Drexel University, M.S. in Cancer Biology
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Regeneration Medicine, Cell Signaling, Immunology
Project: Mechanisms of cerebrovascular remodeling, neurogenesis and innate immunity in neural injury and dysfunction following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion

Kaiser Arndt
Ph.D. 2024
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Undergraduate: Iowa State University, B.S. in Microbiology
Research Interests: Neuroscience, Cellular Aging
New position: Postdoctoral fellow at University of Michigan

Kaylee Petraccione                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ph.D. 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                Hometown: Schenectady, N.Y.                                                                                                                                                                          Undergraduate: Coastal Carolina University, B.S. in Biology                                                                                                                                              Research Interests: Virology, Immunology, Infectious Diseases, Molecular Biology                                                                                  Project: Identification of broad-spectrum host therapeutic targets for hemorrhagic fever virus infections

Lata Chaunsali
M.S. 2021
Hometown: Almora, India
Graduate: M.Sc., Kumaun University, Nainital, India
Graduate: M.Phil., National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore, India
Research Interests: Developmental Neuroscience, Immunology, Cell Signaling
New position: Graduate student at the University of Virginia (moving with the Sontheimer lab)

Ngoc Thang Tran 
Hometown: Long Hai, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Undergraduate: B. Sc in Biotechnology, International University, Vietnam National University HCMC.                                                      Graduate: M. Sc. in Microbiology and Immunology, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan. 
Research Interests: Viral Genetics and host interactions

Yeeun Bae
Ph.D. 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Hometown: Busan, South Korea                                                                                                                                                                    Undergraduate: Gordon College, B.S. in Biological Sciences                                                                                                                                      Research Interests: Neuroscience, Behavior research                                                                                                                                    Project: Deciphering neural circuit mechanism underlying stress-induced altered pain sensation

Zach Baker                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Ph.D. 2025                                                                                                                                                                                                          Hometown: Hackettstown, New Jersey                                                                                                                                                              Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. in Microbiology                                                                                                                                                      Research Interests: Microbiology, Virology, Genetics                                                                                                                                Project: Bacteriophage impact on the gut microbiome 

Aaron Brock
M.S. 2023
Hometown: Palmyra, Virginia
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech, B.S. Microbiology
Research Interests: Microbiology, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Fralin Life Sciences Institute student spotlight on Aaron