Alumni – MIT Microbiology Program

2023

Irene Zhang

Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Southern California

Babbin Lab

Short Bio

Publications

2022

Michaela Gold

Senior Analyst, Pure Tech Health

Ribbeck Lab

Short Bio

Evaluate mucin’s ability to alter biofilm formation of opportunistic and drug-resistant pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. Presented to scientific audiences eight times on this independent project, including both posters and talks. First author publication in preparation.

Determine the mechanism by which mucin prevents Salmonella typhimurium virulence. First author publication in preparation.Investigate

Publications

Thesis: Mucin and mucin glycans alter behavior of mucosal pathogens.

2022

Elizabeth Ward

Expert Scientist at GSK

Imperiali Lab

Short Bio

Thesis: Directed Evolution of Glycan-Binding Proteins

Publications

2022

Sarah Schwartz

Postdoctoral Scholar, UC Berkeley- Alvarez-Cohen lab

Fournier Lab

Short Bio

I’m curious how microbes shape their environment across different scales of space and time. My research focuses on microbial biogeochemistry and evolution, especially pertaining to microbial nitrogen cycling. Before coming to MIT Microbiology, I studied bacterial evolution and marine sponge symbionts at UC San Diego and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and received my Master’s in Science Writing here at MIT; I also worked as a reporter and researcher at Science News in Washington, D.C. In addition to science and writing, I’m a fan of baking, hiking, musicals, and baseball.

Publications

Thesis: The evolution and diversity of noncanonical microbial nitrogen metabolisms

2022

Raphaël Gayet

Postdoctoral Scientist, Wyss Institute at Harvard University

Collins Lab

Short Bio

Publications

Thesis: Developing Nucleic Acid-Based Sensors and Actuators

2021

Anthony Ortiz Lopez

Gore Lab

Short Bio

I am mainly interested in scientific areas dealing with many-organisms questions, such as ecology, community assembly and population genetics. As an undergrad I worked with bacteria developing resistance to antibiotics and with bacteria growing inside the gut of C. elegans. So far, my plans for grad school are to measure as much as we can a specific bacterial community and see how that fits into our theoretical frameworks. Outside the lab, I cook, listen to music and play soccer and waterpolo. Cheers!

Publications

Thesis: Bacterial Interspecies Interactions and Microbial Community Assembly

2021