Our Team Members

Meet Our Team



Meet Our Team

Jason Papin, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator



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Glynis Kolling, Ph.D.

Research Faculty



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Sami Felton, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Research Associate



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Joseph Ficarrotta

Graduate Student

Joseph is from Palm Harbor, Florida, earning a B.S. degree in biomedical engineering with a minor in physics in 2020 from the University of Florida. He is currently researching the relationship between antibiotic resistance and bacterial metabolism using multi-omics data and genome scale metabolic modeling. In his free time, Joe enjoys lifting weights, watching baseball, and cooking.



Meet Our Team

Will Shao

Graduate Student

Will is from sunny California, and earned his B.S. in chemical and biomolecular engineering from Johns Hopkins. He is currently studying how mitochondrial shape affects cancer metabolism. When not thinking about science, Will enjoys spending time in the outdoors or relaxing at home with a good book.



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Erin Wettstone

Graduate Student

Erin is from Richmond, VA, and earned her B.S. in biomedical engineering from the University of Virginia before spending 3 years as a laboratory specialist in the Division of Infectious Diseases and working in many low-to-middle-income countries. She is currently studying how diet and supplements can increase pathogen defense in the gut microbiome. When not in the lab, Erin enjoys a good adventure and investing time in her relationships.



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Adam Bates

Graduate Student

Adam grew up in Denver, Colorado before spending a year and a half in Argentina as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 2024 with a B.S. in chemical engineering and a minor in molecular biology. In the lab, he studies the metabolism of colorectal cancer and the gut microbiome using metabolic modeling tools. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing the guitar, and trying new flavors of Tillamook ice cream.



Meet Our Team

Sidney Rhodes

Undergraduate Student

Sidney is from Harrisonburg, VA and is pursuing her B.S. in biomedical engineering here at UVA. She is working on adaptive laboratory evolutions to study the link between bacterial metabolism and antibiotic resistance. She is also our lab specialist. Outside of lab and class, Sidney loves hiking, knitting, and film photography.



Meet Our Team

Karinna Fink

Undergraduate Student

Karinna is an undergraduate student from Harrisonburg, VA studying biomedical engineering here at UVA. In her spare time, she plays trumpet in the marching band and enjoys a good game of intramural soccer.



Meet Our Team

Avani Tantry

Graduate Student

Avani was born and raised in Bengaluru, India, before moving to the U.S. to pursue a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at California Polytechnic State University. She then spent two years working in the medical device industry, gaining hands-on experience before returning to academia to complete her master’s in Bioengineering at UC San Diego. Outside the lab, Avani stays active as a swimmer, and enjoys traveling and trying new foods and restaurants.

    Alumni

    Connor Moore (August 2021 – August 2026):

    Projects: Sex-specific liver injury, Crohn’s disease, MediaBlitz, and Cardiotoxicity

    Awards: Systems and Biomolecular Data Science Training Grant

    Previous: B.S. Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connor-moore-b38937199/

     

    Mohammad Mazharul Islam (August 2021 – September 2025):

    Projects: Multi-scale model of microbial phenotype modulation by mucins, Systems biology approach to elucidate complex metabolic dependencies in the evolution of antibiotic resistance, and Investigating the emergence of collateral antibiotic sensitivity in Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates during laboratory evolution

    Awards: Wallace H. Coulter Post-Doctoral Scholar Translational Research Grant, UVA Engineering Postdoctoral Teaching Fellowship, BME Postdoc Teaching and Mentorship Award

    Previous: M.S. Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    Current Status: DARPA Research Fellow, Virginia Tech, Biological Systems Engineering

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-mazharul-islam/

     

    Emma Glass (August 2021 – July 2025):

    Project: A systems biology approach to identify niche-specific antimicrobials and potential therapeutic probiotics

    Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP), the UVA Engineering Distinguished Fellowship, the NIH T32 Systems & Biomolecular Data Sciences Training Grant, the Sture G. Olsson Fellowship in Engineering (UVA Endowed Graduate Fellowship), and the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation Scholar award

    Current Status: Research Scientist at The Buck Institute

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-glass-64713316a/

     

    Eirian Crocker (August 2024 – June 2025):

    Project: Thin Film for Oral Delivery of Anaerobic Bacteria

    Current Status: Graduate student in the NOBEL Lab at the University of Michigan

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eirian-crocker-3818a81ba/

       

        Lillian Dillard (February 2020 – August 2023):

        Project: Metabolic network analysis of the vaginal microbiome

        Awards: Appointment to Biotechnology Training Grant; 2nd Place Poster UVA GBS Research Day (2022); NSF ADVANCE appointment (2022-2023); 1st Place (Tied) Poster GBS Symposium (2023); 1 of 5 finalists for the DSM Kirk Apt North American Biotech Student Award (2023)

        Current Status: Research Scientist at the Gates Foundation

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillian-dillard/

         

        Matthew Jenior (August 2017- June 2022):

        Project: Metabolic networks of microbial communities

        Previous: Ph.D. Microbiology, University of Michigan

        Current Status: Senior Design Engineer at Ginkgo Bioworks (www.ginkgobioworks.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-jenior-61466662/

         

        Dawson Payne (December 2019 – December 2021):

        Project: Mucin-modulated metabolism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

        Current Status: Scientist at Genomatica, Inc. (www.genomatica.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawson-payne-99199ab1/

         

        Thomas Moutinho (August 2015 – August 2021):

        Project: Metabolism of microbial co-cultures

        Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2016-2019)

        Current Status: Genomics Bioinformatician at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-moutinho/

         

        Laura Dunphy (January 2016 – November 2020):

        Project: Pseudomonas drug resistance

        Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2016-2019)

        Current Status: Scientist at Applied Physics Lab (www.jhuapl.edu)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-dunphy-4b3b4673/

         

        Bonnie Dougherty (January 2016 – November 2020):

        Project: Toxicology metabolism

        Awards: Cardiovascular Training Grant appointment (2016 – present), NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2017-2020)

        Current Status: Scientist at Pathos AI (www.pathos.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bonnie-dougherty-13898537/

         

        Kristopher Rawls (December 2014 – December 2019): 

        Project: Rat metabolic network

        Awards: Vice President National Society of Black Engineers (2016), Updike Award for BME Department Service (2019)

        Current Status: Bioinformatician at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (www.jhuapl.edu)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdrawls/

         

        Greg Medlock (December 2014 – May 2019):

        Project: Microbiome dynamics

        Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Honorable Mention (2016), Hungerford Prize (2019), Grand Challenges Grant from Gates Foundation (2019)

        Current Status: Director of Research & Analytical Development at Vedanta Biosciences (www.vedantabio.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-medlock-57a74861/

         

        Anna Blazier (August 2013 – April 2019):

        Project: Persistence in microbial pathogens

        Awards: Updike Award for BME Department Service (2016)

        Current Status: Scientist at Sanofi (www.sanofi.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annablazier/

         

        Deborah Luzader (January 2017 – January 2018) (co-advised by Sean Moore, MD):

        Project: Intersection of microbial metabolism and gut epithelial circadian rhythms

        Previous: Ph.D. Microbiology, University of Virginia

        Current Status: Scientist at FDA

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dadukrow/

         

        Maureen Carey (January 2015 – October 2018):

        Project: Plasmodium falciparum metabolism

        Awards: PhRMA Fellowship (2018)

        Current Status: Computational Biologist at Tempus Labs, Inc (www.tempus.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maureen-carey-6b063198/

         

        Matthew Biggs (August 2012 – February 2017):

        Project: Novel Computational Tools for Linking Genotypes to Microbial Community Phenotypes

        Awards: Presidential Fellowship in Data Science (2014-2015)

        Current Status: Scientist at Inscripta (www.inscripta.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-biggs-83736a7a/

         

        Phillip Yen (August 2011 – December 2017):

        Project: Network analysis of pathogenicity in P. aeruginosa

        Awards: Huskey Research Symposium – 1st place in division (2016), Top prize ASM student poster competition (2016)

        Current Status: Software Engineer at Guardant Health (www.guardanthealth.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-yen/

         

         Edik Blais (January 2011 – August 2016):

        Project: Network analysis of cancer metabolism

        Awards: Appointment on Cancer Training Grant

        Current Status: Vice President of Research at Perthera (www.perthera.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edikblais/

         

        Jennifer Bartell (January 2011 – May 2015):

        Project: Systems analysis of pathogenesis in Burkolderia cenocepacia

        Awards: Sture G. Olsson Fellowship (University of Virginia) 2012, Whitaker International Post-Doctoral Fellowship 2015

        Current Status: Consultant at UCPH Center for Health Data Science (www.heads.ku.dk)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagbartell/

         

        Kevin D’Auria (August 2009 – July 2014):

        Project: Systems analysis of Clostridium difficile toxins

        Awards: Infectious Disease Training Grant Annual Symposium, Presenter Award (2013)

        Current Status: Scientist at Foresight Diagnostics (www.foresight-dx.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kdauria/

         

        Paul Jensen (August 2008 – December 2013):

        Project: Network analysis of pathogenicity in P. aeruginosa and network analysis methods

        Awards: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2010-2013), Double Hoo Research Award ($5000), Department of Biomedical Engineering, Most Outstanding Student (2013)

        Current Status: Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-jensen-61ab06125/

         

        Jacob Koskimaki (November 2012 – August 2013): 

        Project: Systems analysis of rat metabolism for toxicology studies

        Previous: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

        Current Status: Director of Data Analytics and Commercial Operations at ConcertAI (www.concertai.com)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkoskimaki/

         

        Arvind Chavali (July 2011 – July 2012):

        Project: Reconstruction of intracellular metabolic network of Leishmania major and immune response

        Previous: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia

        Current Status: Consultant with ZS Associates

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvind-c-a1386394/

         

        Charles Haggart (July 2010 – October 2011) (Joint with Dr. Jeff Saucerman):

        Project: Reconstruction and analysis of a human cardiomyocyte-specific metabolic network.

        Previous: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University

        Current Status:  FDA Commissioner’s Fellow

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-haggart-ph-d-270b7a2/

         

        Arvind Chavali (August 2006 – May 2011):

        Project: Reconstruction of intracellular metabolic network of Leishmania major and immune response

        Awards: Award for Excellence in the Sciences and Engineering, University of Virginia (2009), Grand Prize Winner, University-wide research poster competition, University of Virginia Presidential Inauguration (2011)

        Current Status: Consultant with ZS Associates

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arvind-c-a1386394/

         

        Matthew Oberhardt (November 2005 – August 2010):

        Project: Analysis of metabolic networks in opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

        Awards: Hungerford Prize (For most outstanding graduate research in the University of Virginia Biomedical Sciences graduate programs 2010), Dan David Prize 2010, Whitaker International Fellowship 2010, Department of Biomedical Engineering Most Outstanding Student 2010, Award for Excellence in the Sciences and Engineering, University of Virginia 2008

        Current Status: Data Scientist for Healthcare at Qualtrics

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewoberhardt/

         

        Brian Schmidt (May 2009 – October 2009):

        Project: Reconstruction of metabolic network of cardiac myocyte under Type 2 diabetes; machine learning approaches applied to cancer profiling data

        Previous: Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia

        Current Status: Director at Bristol-Myers Squibb

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schmidtbj/

         

        Ani Manichaikul (January 2008 – September 2009):

        Project: Validation of genome annotation through network reconstruction and analysis of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii metabolism with hydrogen production applications

        Previous: Ph.D. Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University

        Current Status: Associate Professor, Center for Public Health Genomics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia (see people.virginia.edu/~am3xa/)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ani-manichaikul-8862294/

         

        Corinne Locke (November 2005 – December 2007):

        Project: Reconstruction and analysis of signaling networks in gliomas

        Awards: Graduated with M.S. in Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, 2008

        Current Status: Medical Resident, Physical Med and Rehab, Carolinas Med Center, Charlotte, NC

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/corinne-locke-5657538b/

         

        Jong-Min Lee (July 2005 – July 2006):

        Project: Genome-scale dynamic analysis of cellular signaling

        Previous:  Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

        Current Status: Associate Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, Seoul National University (see http://epel.snu.ac.kr/)

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jong-min-lee-4a212014/

         

        Erwin Gianchandani (January 2005 – March 2009):

        Project: Integration of cellular signaling, regulatory, and metabolic networks in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; systems analysis of signaling networks in human cancer

        Awards: AAAS Science Policy Fellowship 2009, Department of Biomedical Engineering Most Outstanding Student 2008, Award for Excellence in the Sciences and Engineering, University of Virginia 2007

        Post-lab: Director of Computing Research Association (2009-2012); Director of BMEplanet

        Current Status: Assistant Director of Technology Innovation, and Partnerships at NSF

        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erwin-gianchandani/