Students

Understanding the Interaction of HIV With Human Microglial Cells, and its Relevance to HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND)

Generation mechanisms and functions of respiratory syncytial virus copy-back defective viral genomes

Investigating the influence of gut microbiome-derived polyamines on host-pathogen interactions and immune responses in the context of Staphylococcus aureus bone infection

Single-cell methodologies, high dimensional analysis, and statistical modeling to understand the functional and phenotypic changes in the infant immune system as a function of antenatal and early life exposures to Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Characterizing Innate-like CD8+ T Cells in Early Life

Modulation of the cell-autonomous molecular clock by metabolic stress, and its role in the anti-tumor immune response. 

Elucidating the Molecular Basis of the Temperature Sensitivity of the Live-Attenuated Influenza Virus (LAIV) and Using that Knowledge to Create a Safer and More Effective Influenza Vaccine

Investigating the impact of gut microbiome-derived metabolites on obese/type-2 diabetic gut barrier integrity and immune modulation in response to systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection

Determining the mechanism of HE4-mediated immunosuppression in ovarian cancer

Shelby is from Charlotte, NC and received her BA in Biology at Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. Her resarch interest and work in the Pavelka Lab is to examine the interrelationship between the 4-3 and 3-3 peptidoglycan crosslinking pathways in Mycobacterium smegmatis.

Investigating the mechanisms by which human host factors restrict HIV-1 gene expression in order to provide insight into the regulation of viral DNA and latency

Investigating the roles of host factors involved in the silencing of integrated HIV DNA in the heterochromatin region

Development of effective CAR T cell therapy for solid tumors

Role of influenza PA on host adaptation

The impact of the developing infant innate immune system on the development of allergic diseases

Characterizing the cellular heterogeneity of circulating innate and adaptive immune cells within the pediatric population to investigate changes in cellular composition throughout early life as well as differences in CD4+ T cell sup-populations between healthy and food allergic pediatric individuals

Elevated Lipemia Index in Dark-Brown Plasma from a Bronze Baby

Zirui is from Jiangxi, China, and received her Biological Science BS from the University of Vermont in Burlington. Her research interest is in virulence gene regulation, and her hobbies include skiing, swimming, reading detective novels, and cooking. Plus, she is a huge LEGO fan!