Sushmita Adhikari
Graduate student
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Research Interests: pH and ion regulation of the Coxiella intracellular niche
Hobbies/Interests: watching basketball, video games, knitting
Favorite color: grey
Pet peeve: when people litter
Rajendra Angara
Instructor
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Research Interests:
Coxiella-mediated interorganellar contact sites
Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, Air crash investigation series
Motivation: “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known - Carl Sagan” and “Never to let oneself beaten down by persons or by events – Marie Curie”
Emily Heaton
Graduate student
Hometown: Rock Port, Missouri
Research Interests: Role of MiT/TFE transcription factors during Coxiella infection
Hobbies: Quilting, embroidery, reading, drag racing, and traveling
Favorite Color: Green
Pet peeve: People who text and drive during rush hour.
Brigham Killips
Graduate student
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Research Interests: C. burnetii manipulation of the host transcription factor TFEB
Hobbies: Scuba Diving, Dungeons & Dragons, and Reading
Favorite Color: Green
Charlie Porto
Masters Student
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Research interests: Secreted proteins and life cycle of Coxiella
Hobbies: Running, reading, and sketching
Favorite color: Coffee
Motivation: Being surprised by nature is the best feeling
Arif Sadi
Graduate student
Hometown: Sylhet, Bangladesh
Research Interests: IL-17 signaling during Coxiella infection
Hobbies/Interests: Traveling, Aviation, Reality TV
Favorite Color: Blue
Maggie Sladek
Graduate student
Hometown: Berwyn, Illinois
Research Interests: Coxiella effector proteins involved in membrane contact sites.
Hobbies: dance, sewing, fitness classes
Favorite color: Barbie pink
Pet peeve: When someone takes the last of a shared treat and doesn’t wash the empty dish
Laura Tellez
Technician
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
Work in the lab: Specialized tasks associated with developing, designing, and conducting research
Hobbies: Sports, karaoke, outdoor activities, family time.
Motivation: One of my main motivations to get closer to science was the movie Outbreak. Researchers were doing everything possible to contain a growing Ebola outbreak in Africa.
Peyton VanWinkle
Postdoctoral Associate
Hometown: Kearney, NE
Research interests: membrane trafficking and interaction with the Coxiella containing vacuole
Hobbies: Crafting, cooking, and hanging out with my dogs
Favorite color: blue
Motivation: "Love and learning are similar in that they can never be wasted."- Hope Jahren