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.

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
DegreeS: 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.

JOAQUIN RODRIGUEZ GALVAN

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

SHIRAZ BELBLIDIA

PhD student

Hometown: Azusa, CA

Degrees: BA in Biochemistry (Barnard College), MS in Biomedical Science Policy and Advocacy (Georgetown University)

Fun Fact: I design decal stickers as a little hobby on the side. You can check them out on my computer and water bottle!

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.