Current Trainees

Our QCB training program now features 17 current students in training in 13 different QCB trainer laboratories, working toward Ph.D. degrees in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, or Cell, Molecular, and Cancer Biology.


Lauren Augusta

My research focuses on how coordinated metabolic signals regulate surface attachment and biofilm formation in Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Fun Fact: I played the harp for 10 years.


Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Fuqua

Undergrad Institution: The University of Puget Sound


Andrew Bach

My research focuses on studying methodology for the synthesis of fluorinated unnatural amino acids and other fluorinated biological moieties

Fun Fact: My hobbies include playing disc golf and watching the Detroit Red Wings


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Snaddon

Undergrad Institution: Alma College


Zach Celentano

I am interested in studying the mechanisms of function of quorum sensing inhibitors and developing new inhibitors against Vibrios using a combination of structure based drug design and structure activity relationship assays.

Fun Fact: I have been weightlifting since I was 14 years old (almost 12 years now).


Degree Program: Biochemistry

Lab: van Kessel

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University


Emily Erdmann

My research focuses on the role of ADARs (Adenosine Deaminases that Act on RNA) and Adenosine-to-Inosine RNA editing in the germline of C. elegans.

Fun Fact: I love cooking and baking.


Degree Program: Biology

Lab: Hundley

Undergrad Institution: Illinois Wesleyan University


Allan Gramillo

My research focuses on investigating the phosphate starvation response and its role on biofilm formation in the plant pathogen Agrobacterium tumafaciens.

Fun Fact: I started the wave at Dodger stadium.


Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Fuqua

Undergrad Institution: California State University - LA


Jane Joncha

My research focuses on assessing different properties of Bacillus subtilis through microfluidics coupled with time-lapse fluorescence microscopy.

Fun Fact: I enjoy hiking, snowboarding and annoying my sister.


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Jacobson

Undergrad Institution: Colorado State University - Fort Collins; Sarah Lawrence College


Renee Kinne

My research focuses on the role of phase separation and disordered domains in oncogenic transcriptional co-activators.

Fun Fact: My favorite movie is Shrek


Degree Program: Cell, Molecular, and Cancer Biology

Lab: Hollenhorst

Undergrad Institution: Michigan State University


Emma Lamb

I am primarily interested in researching how biomolecular interactions affect gene expression in animals.

Fun Fact: I grew up on an island in Washington State.


Degree Program: Biochemistry

Lab: Hundley

Undergrad Institution: University of Louisville


Patrick Laughlin

My research focuses on the structure and assembly of SARS-Cov-2 Nucleocapsid protein.

Fun Fact: I love skiing, gardening, and birdwatching.


Degree Program: Biochemistry

Lab: Zlotnick

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University Bloomington


Victoria Lopez

My research uses fruit fly larvae to understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nociception, the sensory process that encodes painful/noxious stimuli.

Fun Fact: I like to collect mugs


Degree Program: Genome, Cell, and Developmental Biology (GCDB) Program in Neuroscience

Lab: Tracey

Undergrad Institution: Roosevelt University


Averi McFarland

My research focuses on protein interactions, structure-function, and dynamics necessary for cell wall synthesis in the pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Fun Fact: I had a dislocated clavicle for 5 months that was repositioned using a cadaver ligament. I have yet to break a bone though.


Degree Program: Microbiology

Lab: Winkler

Undergrad Institution: Idaho State University


Emma McRae

My research focuses on using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to study metal-dependent biological systems found in pathogenic bacteria

Fun Fact: I have free-dived and scuba-dived with sharks multiple times!


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Giedroc

Undergrad Institution: UC Berkeley


Sandip Mishra

My research focuses on developing artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective catalysis. I am also utilizing de novo design to create Ru and Ir-based artificial metalloenzymes for enantioselective photocatalysis.

Fun Fact: I enjoy playing the flute and chess.


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Lewis

Undergrad Institution: University of Delhi; Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay


Morgan Nyman

My research focuses on developing and understanding cancer therapeutics that specifically target diseased tissue inhibiting one-carbon metabolism, and more specifically purine synthesis pathway, within the cell.

Fun Fact: I am a big fan of Jurassic Park.


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Dann

Undergrad Institution: Gannon University

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Max Osterberg

My research focuses on exploring metal-dependent responses in bacteria such as Acinetobacter baumannii and discover their role regarding survival within vertebrate hosts.

Fun Fact: I like playing guitar and drawing.


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Giedroc

Undergrad Institution: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute


Hunter Richman

My research focuses on macrophage phagosome maturation.

Fun Fact: I play Magic the Gathering


Degree Program: Materials Chemistry

Lab: Yu

Undergrad Institution: Indiana University - South Bend


Cayla Rose

My research focuses on developing mass spectrometry detection methods for the post-translational modification tyrosine sulfation and expanding the understanding of the enzyme responsible, tyrosylrprotein sulfotransferase.

Fun Fact: I am a lover of dogs with two of my own, and I can solve a Rubik's cube.


Degree Program: Chemistry

Lab: Dann

Undergrad Institution: Columbus State University