TEAM
DR. MEIKE DITTMANN
Principal Investigator
Hometown:
Stuttgart, Germany
Degrees:
Intermediate Degree in Law (Tübingen)
Diploma in Biology (Tübingen)
PhD in Molecular Medicine (Ulm)
Fun Fact:
I did competitive ballroom dancing for 15 years.
DR. RALF DUERR
Research Assistant Professor
Hometown:
Geislingen an der Steige, Germany
Degrees:
License to practice medicine (Ulm)
M.D. (Ulm)
Ph.D. (Mainz)
Fun Fact:
The only German and huge soccer fan who doesn't drink beer.
DR. KEATON CROSSE
Post-Doc
Hometown:
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Degrees:
B.Sc Microbiology and Genetics (La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
PhD in Antiviral Innate Immunology (La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia)
Fun Fact:
Can ride a unicycle!
RACHEL PRESCOTT
PhD candidate
Hometown:
Hampden, Maine
Degrees:
BS in Biochemistry (Worcester, MA)
Fun Fact:
I played the tuba in the WPI Marching Band! Go Tech!
AUSTIN SCHINLEVER
PhD Candidate
Hometown:
Gilford, NH
Degree:
BSc Chemistry, BA Spanish (University of Virginia)
Fun Fact:
I am a huge nerd for public transit! I even worked for several years as a bus driver.
BRUNO RODRIGUEZ-RODRIGUEZ
Phd Candidate
Hometown:
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Degrees:
BS Industrial Biotechnology, Minor in Italian (University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez)
MPS Forensic Science, Chemistry Track (The Pennsylvania State University)
Fun Fact:
I am a professional salsa dancer and judge and a 4x World Salsa Champion
JOAQUIN RODRIGUEZ
PhD candidate
Hometown:
Lima, Peru
Degrees:
BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, minor in Microbiology - Oregon State University
Fun Fact:
I surf a lot, and have been doing it since I was 10! Yes, there is year-round surf in NYC; fall and winter are the best seasons.
GRACE CIABATTONI
PhD student
Hometown: Newburgh, NY
Degrees: BS, Molecular Biology (Lehigh University)
BA, Spanish and Hispanic Studies (Lehigh University)
Fun Fact: I sang at an international choral festival in Graz with my college choir
ASHLEY FISHER
Research Technician
Hometown: Brentwood, NY
Degree: BA in Cellular/Molecular Biology with a Double Minor in Deaf Studies + Spanish from SUNY New Paltz
Fun Fact: I spent two weeks abroad in Ethiopia teaching the Deaf community about personal hygiene, their microbiota, and how vaccines work using American/Ethiopian Sign Language, English, and Amharic thanks to Visions Global Empowerment. I plan on volunteering with them again at an all girls school in Nicaragua!
THE EGG-LAYING WOOL MILK PIG
Lab mascot
Hometown:
Fantasialand, Germany
Degree:
Passed Quality Control
Fun Fact:
I roam the lab at night when nobody is around.