The Pernas Lab is delighted to welcome four new undergraduate student volunteers to the team: Liam Martinez, Kristen Sayano, Dimeera Kadiwala, and Aman Andukuri! We’re excited to have them join us as we continue to explore the fascinating world of host-pathogen interactions and mitochondrial biology.
Liam Martinez is pursuing a B.Sc. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and is interested in the ways mitochondria may protect cells from intracellular pathogens. Outside the lab, he loves playing spikeball, guitar, and chess!
Kristen Sayano is a B.Sc. student in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, interested in interactions between pathogen effector proteins and host mitochondrial receptors and how they may affect the host’s innate immunity. When she’s not in lab, you can find her playing tennis and pickleball, heading to the beach, or baking.
Dimeera Kadiwala is also pursuing a B.Sc. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, with interests in parasitology and disease tolerance research.
Aman Andukuri rounds out our newest cohort, pursuing a B.Sc. in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. He’s interested in the lesser-known roles of mitochondria and how they contribute to cellular defenses against pathogens.
We’re thrilled to have this energetic group join the lab, and we can’t wait to see the curiosity, creativity, and hard work they bring to our research on Toxoplasma gondii and host biology.
Please join us in giving Liam, Kristen, Dimeera, and Aman a warm welcome to the Pernas Lab!