I am a rising third year PhD student in the Microbiology and Immunology program in the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). Prior to entering the PhD program at UTMB, I completed a BS in Biology from the University of Mary Washington and an ScM in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. Throughout my career, my research interests have centered around highly pathogenic emerging zoonotic viruses. At Hopkins, my master’s thesis involved in vitro characterization of the pathogenic potential of emergent influenza D virus. This research was complemented by various projects involving SARS-CoV-2, including investigating the impact of the D146G mutation on SARS-CoV-2 fitness and evaluating the ability of convalescent plasma to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 variants.
My current research in Dr. Slobodan Paessler’s Lab involves various arenaviruses and filoviruses. Specifically, my thesis concerns Lassa virus (LASV), the zoonotic arenavirus responsible for causing Lassa Fever. One-third of individuals that survive LASV infection develop sudden, permanent sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Despite the high prevalence of this devastating sequela, the mechanism driving the development of hearing loss is largely unknown. Prior work in the Paessler Lab points to CD4+ T cells as playing a critical role in SNHL development following LASV infection. My work seeks to elucidate the antigenic specificity of these cells and further determine how the host immune response leads to SNHL.
My position as a PhD student at UTMB is the culmination of a decade’s worth of determination and hard work. In high school, I off-handedly took an elective course entitled “Emerging Diseases and Forensics” to complete my senior course credits. As part of the class, we were instructed to research a pathogen that we would follow for the duration of the course. At the time, the largest Ebola outbreak in history was plaguing West Africa and instantly I was fascinated. I had always had an affinity for science, but researching the intersection of humans, animals, and pathogens leading to the emergence of zoonotic viruses, such as Ebola, honed my interests into the field of virology. Ever since, it has been my dream to conduct research on viral hemorrhagic fevers. I have pursued this dream tirelessly until arriving at UTMB where now, 10 years later, I donned my first “space-suit” and earned the opportunity to research Ebola with my own hands. Coming to UTMB to pursue my passion for virology has not only allowed me to recognize a years-long desire to work with hemorrhagic fever viruses, but it has also provided me with the training and mentorship necessary to continue to thrive in this field. I am continuously thankful for mentors, professors, and friends I have here and look forward to continuing my PhD research at UTMB.