Lab Members

Terrin Farris, MS student

Terrin characterizes the impact of ethanol and acetate on KSHV reactivation.

Jennifer Kneas Travis, INBS PhD student

Jenny works on two projects that involve: 1. studying the molecular interactions of KSHV replication protein: processivity factor (ORF59) and 2. optimizing viral protein expression in a mammalian cell culture system.

Amr Waly, INBS PhD student

Amr investigates the roles of CRYBB2 and P1 in cell adhesion and migration.

Jayden Waites, MS student

Jayden optimizes the experimental systems for KSHV ethanol experiments.

Megan Martin, BS

Megan works on several projects: 1. investigating alcohol and acetate induced metabolic changes to KSHV infected cells, 2. optimizing viral protein expression in a mammalian cell culture system and 3. EM microscopy and single particle analyses.

Dahzyre Johnson

Dahyzre is completing immunofluorescence to study the distribution and abundance of KSVH lytic proteins in iSLK.219 cells exposed to ethanol.

Jibran Polani

Jibran is completing single particle analysis to measure protein complex formation.

Fatima Smith

Fatima is completing immunofluorescence to study the distribution and abundance of KSVH lytic proteins in iSLK.219 cells exposed to ethanol.

Yazmine Arthur, 2023 undergraduate. Yazmine is completing single particle analysis to measure DNA-protein binding position of KSHV processivity factor, ORF59 and validated methods to verify lytic DNA lengths using diagnostic digests and gel electrophoresis.

London Harper, 2022-2023 undergraduate. London is collaborating with Amr Waly, a doctoral graduate students, on investigating CRYBB2 in breast cancer cells.

London started graduate school at Emory University in the Fall 2024.

Salma Youssef, 2022-2023 undergraduate. Salma is studying the rate of ethanol evaporation for acute and chronic ethanol cell culture models.

Cynthia Obilor, MS, MS student Cynthia developed a chronic alcohol model and characterizes the long term impact of ethanol exposure on KSHV reactivation.

Cynthia successfully graduated in spring 2023 and is currently seeking a position in industry.

Jessillin Collins, 2021-2022 undergraduate. Jessillin completed single particle analysis of DNA and protein standards by measuring individual particles from electron micrographs.

Jessilin started graduate school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Fall 2023.

Lauren Odom, 2022 undergraduate. Laure completed a molecular cloning project to sub-clone the KSHV lytic origin fragment.

Lauren started graduate school at the University of Alabama in the Fall 2023.

Ariana Duval, 2022 CAGPM Summer Undergraduate Program student. Ariana worked on characterizing viral DNA using biochemical and microscopy approaches.

Ariana will continue pursuing her BS at NC A&T University in the fall.

Kari Linderman Kari joined the lab in March 2020, just in time for COVID-19 shutdown. Kari worked on a variety of projects and promotes an organized, well-functioning lab environment.

Elizabeth Goins, MS Lizzie’s project investigated the impact of ethanol and acetate on KSHV reactivation. Lizzie successfully defended summer 2020 and has accepted a Research Scientist position with Fisher Scientific in Austin, TX.

Lizzie started the PA program at Radford University, VA in Fall 2022.

Jack W. Leland, BS During summer 2019, Jack was a PARTNERS program summer undergraduate conducting research at NCCU.

Jack began medical school at UNC-CH in Fall 2022.

Jordyn Montague, BS During fall 2019, Jordyn was an NCCU undergraduate conducting research.

Jordyn is starting dental school at ECU in Fall 2023.