Alumni

Luiza Samora
Volunteer

Luiza Samora received her BS in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona. She joined the Ahmad lab in the beginning of 2020 as a graduate student volunteer and is working on determining the immunological and genetic factors of HIV-1 in HIV-infected patients. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors, traveling and watching tv shows. 

Doyle Lab

Hwu Dau Rw (Dora) Chen
Research Professional I
Amanda Chung
Master's Student
Megan Irish Hayes
Research/Laboratory Assistant
Omar Hussein
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Brittany Deanna Kurita Gratreak
MD/PhD Student
Maj Krumberger
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kristos E. Johnson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Justine Mona
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kristina Stepanovic
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Alex Urzua
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Kylie Elizabeth Calderon
Research Technician
Erin Doris Chapman
Research Technician
Rachel Hearne Crumpacker
Research Technician
Frankie Garcia
Volunteer
Anna Jaison
Program Aide
Vivian (Thuy-Vi) Nguyen, PhD
Assistant Professor, Neurology
Marco A Tavera-Garcia
Research Specialist, Senior
Jacob Zbesko
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Frelinger Lab

Daniel Powell

Assistant Research Specialist-Daniel completed his PhD in 2011 on Structural Modifications of LPS with Bob Ernst at the University of Maryland, Baltimore.  His current interests center on the regulation of host adaptive responses by commensal and pathogenic bacteria. In his free time, Daniel enjoys cooking and hiking with his kids.

Harris Lab

Andrew D'Arcangelis

Undergraduate Student

Michelle Lensch

Undergraduate Student

Anastasia Miramontes

Graduate Student

Angela K Muise

Research Specialist

Lisa White

Senior Technician

Kunhs Lab

Neha Rajendra Deshpande

Graduate Student

David Isaiah Duron

Research Technician

Caleb Glassman

Research Technician

Karen Hernandez

Research Technician

Heather Parrish

Graduate Student

Caleb Ya ill Kim
Research Technician
Shio Kobayashi, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate III
Katrina Tabanda Lichauco
Research Technician
Nedal Taha
Research Specialist
Peter Tuohy
Research Technician
Olisambu Uche
Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Nikolich-Zugich Lab

Christopher Coplen, PhD
Graduate Student

Chris Coplen obtained his BS in Biology at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. In 2018, he joined the Nikolich-Zugich lab as a doctoral student and began his work investigating the molecular mechanisms which underlie age-related alterations in T cell receptor repertoires. Outside of lab he enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and playing music.

Dragana Nikolich-Zugich

Research Associate

John Davies

Postdoctoral Fellow, National Cancer Institute

Emily Goldberg, PhD

Postdoctoral Associate, Yale School of Medicine   https://medicine.yale.edu/immuno/programs/e_goldberg-2.profile

Carly Cabel

PhD Candidate, University of Arizona - Cancer Biology

Heather Linn Thompson

Senior Design Quality Engineer, Ventana Medical Systems   https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-thompson-b1154b14/

Jason Pugh, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar, Stanford University   https://profiles.stanford.edu/jason-pugh

Kristin Renkema, PhD

Assistant Professor, Grand Valley State University   https://www.gvsu.edu/bms/kristin-renkema-280.htm

Brian Rudd, MPH, PhD

Associate Professor of Immunology, Cornell University    https://www.ruddlab.com/

Megan Smithey, PhD

Senior Scientist, Vir Biotechnology Inc.    https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-smithey-9496b88/

Justin Frere

MD, PhD Candidate Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai   https://mcb.arizona.edu/news/2018/justin-frere-loves-lab-and-feeling-mutual

Osman Adam
Research Specialist
Arveen Asghar
Volunteer

Arveen Asghar is currently a Junior at the University of Arizona working towards a BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Nutrition. Arveen is an undergraduate lab assistant working under MladenJergovic investigating the molecular mechanisms behind age-dependant vulnerabilities to infection with intracellular pathogens. When not studying, Arveen loves to be outdoors, travel, and explore new places!

Lisa Davidson
Research Specialist, Senior
Grecia Frisby
Research Specialist
Brea Hampton brown
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Carmine S Martinez
Research Specialist, Senior
Yvonne E Nava
Research Specialist

Yvonne is responsible for subject recruitment, consenting, phlebotomy and coordination of all clinical research studies performed in the lab. Outside of work you can find her in the gym, listening to a medical related podcast, or like any other sport mom at the ball field cheering for her 2 kids.

Eileen Veronica Olaiz
Research Specialist
Vikas Singh
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Elana L. Terner
Volunteer

Elana Terner is an undergraduate at the University of Arizona who is in the process of obtaining a BS in Microbiology. She joined the Nikolich-Zugich lab in 2019 as an undergraduate student volunteer. In her free time, she enjoys reading, drawing, and exploring Tucson.

Faith Warner
Volunteer

Faith Warner is currently a junior at the University of Arizona and is working towards a BS in Microbiology. She is a student volunteer in the Nikolich-Zugich lab studying under Ilijia Jeftic to understand the mechanism of age-related lymph node fibrosis. When not studying, Faith is reading a good mystery book, playing basketball, or hiking around Tucson.

Makiko Watanabe
Associate Research Scientist
April Yingst
Program Manager, Personalized Defense Initiative

April will be graduating from the University of Arizona College of Public Health with a Masters in Public Health in May 2020, and is the program manager for the Personalized Defense Initiative. She is a Tucson native who enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs, reading, and being outdoors.

Schenten Lab

Kevin J Holt

Current position: Graduate Student at University of Massachusetts, Worchester

Marvin O'Ketch
Juliana Costanzo

Research Technician. Current position: Medical Student at University of Massachusetts, Worchester 

Brenna Nicole Hall
Research Technician
Cameron Levi Larson

Research Technician

Spencer John Williams
Clinical Research Coordinator I

Wu Lab

Maran Sprouse

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Krysta Felix

Graduate Student

Weshely Kujur

Research Technician

Debdut Naskar, PhD

Post Doctoral Research Associate-I

Christina Klinger

Laboratory Manager

Fei Teng

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Eric Wu

Laboratory Manager

Asmaa Abu Maziad, MD
Volunteer-Staff (Assistant Professor, Pediatrics)
Jesse Altemus
Research Technician
Nicholas Bates
Research Technician
Anna Li
Research Technician
Alejandra Sanchez Quintero
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Kiah Sleiman

Campos Lab

Matthew Bronnimann

Graduate Student

Christine Calton

Postdoctoral Research Associate I

Mingfeng Lu

Masters Student

Shaan Bhullar
UBRP Student
Matthew Christofferson
Research Tech
Eduardo Gamez
Student Worker
Shuaizhi Li
Graduate Student
Erica Spence
Student Worker
Brittany Uhlorn

Graduate Assistant, Research

Goodrum Lab

Mahadevaiah Umashankar

Postdoctoral

Lora Grainger

Graduate Student

Alex Petrucelli
Graduate Student
Mike Rak

Graduate Student

Katie Caviness

Graduate Student

Jason C. Buehler
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Suzu Igarashi
Research Specialist, Senior
Kristen Zarella
Graduate Student
Belen Molina
Graduate Student
Melissa Moy
Graduate Student
Megan Peppenelli
Postdoctoral Associate I
Sebastian Zeltzer
Research Specialist, Senior

Sebastian received his BS in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona. He is interested in how HCMV fine-tunes signaling pathways through differential receptor trafficking. When not “Science-ing”, Sebastian enjoys judo, writing, and pointing out that climate change is real. 

Koshy Lab

Shraddha Tuladhar

Postdoctoral Fellow, Lab of Thirumala-Devi Kanneganti (Dept of Immunology, St Jude's Children's Research Hospital)

Anthony Aguilar
Volunteer

Anthony "AJ" Aguilar is a freshman majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology as well as Microbiology.  Given his majors, he is passionate about the molecular mechanisms behind human health conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.  In the past, AJ has conducted research regarding transgenic mosquitoes and the malaria parasite.  Wanting to explore more about human health from a new lens, AJ joined the lab in Fall 2018.  In his free time, AJ loves to enjoy the outdoors, travel, and has worked with the KEYS research internship as a KEYS Crew mentor to high school students.  In the future, AJ plans to pursue a career in medical research by obtaining his PhD and/or MD after his undergraduate years. 

Alba Dominguez
Volunteer
Joshua Kochanowsky, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Jing Lu
Volunteer
Oscar Mendez
Graduate Assistant, Research
Emily Merritt
Research Professional

Emily graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Biochemistry in 2010. After working in an environmental chemistry company in Wilmington, NC, and a subsequent stay in genetics lab of Dr. Ann Stapleton at UNC-Wilmington, Emily applied for graduate school at the University of Arizona.  She joined the fun, yet stimulating Koshy lab in 2016. The focus of her research is to study how toxoplasma gondii infection modulates host pathways in Alzheimer's Disease.

Tessa Spangler
Volunteer

Purdy Lab

Liz Dahlmann

Graduate Student

Debbie Mustacich

Scientific Investigator

Kelly Orth

Undergraduate Student

Ian Kline
Graduate Assistant, Purdy Lab

Ian received his BS from the University of Arizona in 2018 where he studied Psychology with a minor in Microbiology. Ian has long been fascinated with virology as both a science as well as its place in science fiction books/movies/games. He joined the lab of Dr. John Purdy in 2019 working with HCMV.  In his free time, Ian enjoys off-roading with his Jeep, reading, painting, or playing video games.

Marilyn T Marron
Research Specialist
Anissa Yvette McKenna
Research Professional
Andrea Savu
Volunteer

Andrea is currently a junior at the University of Arizona Honors College, majoring in physiology and minoring in psychology! In her free time, she enjoys cooking/baking and staying active. 

Max Wegner
Volunteer
Lisa Wise
Research Specialist
Yuecheng Xi, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate

Yuecheng received a Bachelor's degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology from University of Toledo in 2015. She joined Dr. John Purdy's lab in 2017 and completed her Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 2021.  Yuecheng is currently working on the role of lipid and fatty acid metabolism in HCMV replication.  In her leisure time, she likes to cook chinese food and play with her dogs.

So Lab

Morgan M. Brown

Undergraduate Student

Timothy F. Chan

Undergraduate Student

Alyson Hockenberry
Danielle M. Hutchens

Undergraduate Student

Won Jong Kim

Graduate Student

Rahik Mazumder

Undergraduate Student

Nicolas Alexander Alvarado
Volunteer
Kizzy Brooks
Volunteer

Kizzy is double majoring in Microbiology and Molecular and Cellular Biology with a minor in Psychology. She is interested in pursuing higher education in Immunology and Microbiology.

 

Andrew Carlos Encinas Johnson
Volunteer

Andrew is a Physiology major at the University of Arizona and plans on pursuing a career in medicine after he graduates. Being a Tucson native, he enjoys volunteering at local organizations such as Tu Nidito Children and Family Services and relishing in the intrinsic beauty of the Tucson desert through frequent hiking.

Mancheong (Iris) Ma
Graduate Student, So Lab

Johnson Lab

Henrik O'Brien
Graduate Student, Johnson Lab, Immunobiology Track

Henrik received his BS in Biology from the University of Utah in 2016. He joined Dr. Johnson's lab in March of 2018 and is pursuing a PhD in Molecular Medicine – Immunobiology. He is interested in identifying and understanding bacterial pathways utilized in overcoming copper stress. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, playing board games, and solving puzzles.

Preetham Hosur

Professional Science Masters (PSM), Applied Bioscience Program 2018

Itzel Rosa Gutierrez

Professional Science Masters (PSM), Applied Bioscience Program 2018

Michael Trial

BS, Biochemistry 2018

Savannah Weaver

Professional Science Masters (PSM), Applied Bioscience Program 2019

Angela Rivera

BS, Biochemistry 2019

Basmah Abdallah Maiga

Volunteer

Joseph W Alvin, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate I
Will Brooks
Volunteer
Meredythe Durckel
Research Professional
Nadia Olivia Hackett
Research Technician

Nadia received her bachelor's degree in Public Health Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. At Maryland, she was a part of the Women's Track and Field team and other student organizations. She is planning to attend medical school. When she is not in the lab, you will find her running, cooking, hiking, or vlogging.

Astrid Chandni Maury
Research Technician
Sanjay Menghani
Graduate Assistant, Research

Sanjay Menghani grew up in Vineland, NJ and received his bachelor's degree from UPenn in biochemistry and economics. During his undergrad years, he spent time working in the lab of Dr. Sara Cherry, a renowned virologist and microbiologist. In her lab, he studied Rift Valley fever virus and innate mechanisms of antiviral defense. After spending a year working at the NIH Clinical Center as a Post baccalaureate IRTA Fellow, he moved to Tucson to begin his MD/PhD training at the University of Arizona. After completing his first 2 years of medical school, Sanjay officially joined the Johnson Lab and is working towards his PhD in Immunobiology. Sanjay is interested in understanding infections from both the host cell and pathogen's perspectives. In the Johnson Lab, he will venture to better understand the role of copper and other metals in the infection process, with the end goal of helping to develop novel therapeutic strategies against bacterial infections that he can bring to the bedside down the road.

Miranda Neubert
Research Technician

Miranda Neubert received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Boston University. After working in Neuroscience at OHSU and the Portland VA Medical Center for over 10 years, Miranda enthusiastically joined the Johnson Lab in July 2016. In her spare time, Miranda enjoys organizing large art projects, gardening, cooking and hiking.

Chansorena Pok
Volunteer

Chansorena received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Arizona in 2019. She joined the lab in June 2020 as a Master’s student in the Applied Biosciences program. She is interested in identifying novel therapeutics to treat infectious diseases. In her spare time, she enjoys art, exploring new food places, reading, and spending quality time with family and friends. 

Chansorena Pok
Research Technician
Alison Watson
Volunteer

Alison Watson received her Bachelor's degree in Biology from Northern Arizona University. In 2019, she joined the Johnson lab as a Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) student at the University of Arizona. Outside of lab, she enjoys traveling, watching Taika Waititi movies, and hanging out with her cat.

Bhattacharya Lab

Chloe Mikolajczyk
Student Worker
Derrick Callahan, B.S.

Current position: Graduate student, University of Pittsburgh

Arijita Jash, Ph.D.

Current Position: Staff Scientist, University of Virginia

Krista Kennerly, B.S., M.S.

Current Position: Senior Research Technician, Washington University in St. Louis

Kranti Peddada, B.S.

Current position: Orthopedic surgeon, University of California, Davis

Whitney Purtha, Ph.D.

Current position: Senior Scientist, Amgen

Marilyn Renner, B.S.

Current position: Lab Director, Nestle Purina

Diana Gerardo

Current Position: Research Associate, Ventana Medical Systems

Amy Becker, PhD

Current position: Senior Scientist, Intellia Therapeutics

Jason Michael Bleau
Research Specialist
Kelly Hu

Current Position: Medical student, New York University

Wing Lam, Ph.D.

Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, with a joint position between Stanford University and Amgen

Ian Aloysius Mccabe
Research Technician

Current Position: Graduate student, Washington University in St. Louis

Hannah Nicole Newlin
Research Technician
Kameron Laroy Peyton
Research Technician
Danielle Philo
Volunteer
Kelvin William Pond, PhD
Assistant Research Professor, Cellular and Molecular Medicine - (Research Series Track)
Tyler Ripperger
Graduate Student
Marta V Schoenle
Research Professional
Katye Totten

Current Position: Research Associate, Ventana Medical Systems

Yinan Wang

Current Position: Senior Scientist, New York Stem Cell Foundation Laboratories

Ran Wei
Research Technician

Ran (Ryan) Wei was from originally from Guangzhou, China. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2017 with BS in Biology. In 2019, he joined Bhattacharya lab as a research technician, where he is currently investigating the genetic pathway of stem cell differentiation into plasma cell. Outside of work, he enjoys movies, TV shows, workout and riding his motorcycle on the Mt. Lemmon.  

Rachel Wong
PhD student

Current Position: Senior Scientist, Vir Biotechnology

Wilson Lab

Stephanie Tribble
Graduate Student, Wilson Lab, Clinical Translational Science
Jordan Landry
Research Technician
Amanda Marie Ruiz
Research Technician
Christopher Wincek
Research Technician

Shrikant Lab

Ferron Sonderegger

Research Specialist, Principal

Joao Paulo Costa Pinho
Research Specialist
Geetanjali Gupta
Research Specialist, Senior
Partha Samadder
Research Specialist, Senior