Oluyomi Ajibode
Oluyomi Marriet Ajibode, earned her BS in Biochemistry from the University of Jos, Nigeria. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Environmental Microbiology at the University of Arizona under the mentorship of Dr. Ian Pepper in the Environmental research laboratory. Her research interest include but not limited to; monitoring the incidence of waterborne and water-based pathogens in reclaimed water distribution systems, evaluating the effect of residence time, characterizing chemical and microbial quality of stored reclaimed water.
Luis Fernando Aranguren Caro
PhD student studying shrimp diseases in Dr. Don Lightner's laboratory. Research includes studying viral interaction among shrimp viral diseases and the development of blocking proteins to prevent shrimp from viral diseases.
Alexandra Armstrong
Michelle Chu
I received my B.S. in microbiology at the University of Arizona in 2010. I decided that I wanted to continue my education in microbiology through the Master of Science Program. Currently, I am working on a nosocomial pathogen, Clostridium difficile, with Dr. Gayatri Vedantam and Dr. V.K. Viswanathan as my mentors. More specifically, I am interested in looking at the cell surface polysaccharides of C. difficile. Vedantam and Viswanathan Labs
Andrew Clark
I graduated from the University of Arizona Microbiology program in 2006, and then completed my Masters in Microbiology with Dr. B. Helen Jost in 2009. While completing my master’s degree I worked in the clinical microbiology laboratory at Tucson Medical Center, and then as a research specialist for Dr. Donna Wolk in the Department of Pathology in the UA College of Medicine.
I currently am pursuing a Ph.D. under the mentorship of Drs. Gayatri Vedantam and V.K. Vishwanathan investigating the molecular mechanisms by which the pathogenic bacterium Clostridium difficile is able to colonize host tissues and subsequently establish infection. I am particularly interested in the contribution of bacterial colonization factors their interaction with the innate immune system in the context of C. difficile infection. Vedantam and Vishwanathan Labs
Lisbeth Echevarria
I am originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico where I completed a BS in Microbiology in 2006 and joined same year this department as a graduate student. Currently I am a member of Dr. Joens Lab. My long-terms goals are to finish a DVM and continue doing veterinary research. My current research project involves the characterization of purified fibers reminiscent of pili in Campylobacter jejuniand determine their role in biofilm formation, colonization of poultry and other assays such invasion and attachment of human intestinal cells.
Rebecca Mcquade
I graduated from the University of Arizona’s Nutritional Sciences program in 2008. Though I enjoy nutrition, I found that I’m most interested in the fascinating world of microbes.
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to return to the UofA, where I’m currently studying the hospital-acquired pathogen Clostridium difficile under the guidance of Drs. Gayatri Vedantam and V.K. Viswanathan. In particular, I’m interested in antimicrobial resistance in C. difficile, and the host cell response to C. difficile infection.
Rita Mild
I moved to Tucson from Olympia, WA in 2001. Received my Bachelor’s degree here at UA in 2006 (Molecular and Cellular Biology). My research interests include the transmission of Campylobacter jejuni in poultry in broiler houses and in the cattle feedlot environment. I have also studied the efficacy of organic antimicrobial compounds (cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol) used in edible film wrappers against C. jejuni on retail chicken, and the antimicrobial affects of organic sanitizers against Salmonella Newport on organic leafy greens. When not playing with bacteria, I enjoy reading, listening to music, and watercolor painting. Lab: Joens
Katherine Moore
MS student in Dr. Sadhana Ravishankar’s laboratory. My research focuses on improving organic produce safety. I work with different plant extracts and essential oils to test their killing effects against Salmonella enterica serovar Newport on organic leafy greens.
Bio: Born in southern California, but raised here in Tucson, I saw no other option for college than the University of Arizona. I graduated in 2009 with a bachelor's of science in veterinary science. I decided to attend graduate school and will graduate in December 2011 with
my Master's.
Sidrotm Naim
Indonesia is one of the main shrimp producers in the world which drives my research interest on shrimp diseases. My research deals with shrimp viral disease (for an MS degree in MicroVet) and shrimp bacterial disease (for a PhD in SWES). I thank Dr.Lightner for allowing and supporting my study in his lab as well as the US Dept of State Fulbright Program and the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Program. In addition, the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Program funds my baseline study and field experiment in Indonesia.
Javier Reyna-Granados
Liliana Rounds
MS student in Dr. Sadhana Ravishankar's laboratory. My current research project involves the identification of natural plant compounds that, for their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, can simultaneously inactivate Escherichia coli O157:H7 and potentially carcinogenic heterocyclic amines in ground beef patties.
I am originally from Tamaulipas, Mexico, where I graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 2003. I joined the department as a graduate student in 2009 and one of my goals is to obtain a PhD
in Microbiology. Ultimately, I would like to apply to work for a
worldwide organization researching infectious diseases, and
communicating to the population their importance and prevention.
Jennifer Roxas
Jennifer Lising Roxas obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus. While on a J1 research scholarship at the University at Illinois at Chicago under the supervision of Dr. VK. Viswanathan, she discovered her passion for understanding the intricacies of bacterial pathogenesis. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Microbiology under the tutelage of Dr. V.K. Viswanathan and Dr. Gayatri Vedantam. Her field of interest is in pathogen/host interactions.
Jennifer Todd
My name is Jennifer Todd and I am a new PhD student studying microbiology. I graduated from Seton Hall University where I researched the antimicrobial activities of black tea extracts. I just started researching the bacterial growth of Salmonella Newport and E. coli O157:H7 in organic composts in Dr. Ravishankar's lab. Once I have finished that study, I will research the synergistic effects of several antimicrobial agents against Salmonella Newport on organic leafy greens.
David Williams
