515-294-9220
Molecular Microbiology & Vaccinology Lab.
People
Our family of professional researchers brings their experience and acumen together to manage the challenges and projects we take on. We’re always pushing ourselves and each other to try new things and think outside the box. Get to know the people of Iowa State University — an unbelievable source of information and inspiration.
Dr. Melha Mellata
Principal Investigator
Graduate Students
Logan Ott
PhD Candidate
I am a fourth-year PH.D. student in the interdepartmental microbiology graduate program. I study microbial-host interactions in the context of the gut microbiota and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. My work with numerous in vivo and in vitro models such as rodents, flies, and human and monkey cell lines.
Jared Jochum
PhD Candidate
I am a third-year PhD student in microbiology. My research focuses on emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria listed as "high" and "serious" threats by CDC. I particularly focus on studying their virulence attributes and mechanism of transfer between bacteria.
Caleb Skow
PhD Student
I am a first-year Ph.D. student in the interdepartmental microbiology program. My research will focus on studying the virulence of diarrheagenic bacteria in newly developed mouse models and evaluating prophylactic treatments against their infections.
Current Undergraduate Students
Briana McCulland (Summer 2023)
UG visitor (University of Alabama)
Evan Bollinger (2022-)
Undergraduate Honors Researcher
Julia Marks (2022-)
Undergraduate Honors Researcher
Kelsa Heseltine (2022-)
Undergraduate Honors Researcher
Mark Engelken (2019-)
Undergraduate Researcher
Jack Peterson (2020-)
Undergraduate Researcher
Sara Scott (2021-)
Undergraduate Researcher
Alumnus
Zachary Stromberg (2016-2018)
USDA Post-Doc Fellow
Angelica Van Goor (2016-2018)
Post-Doc
Caroline Treadwell (2017-2019)
Undergraduate Honors Lab Assistant
David Couri    (2017)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Amanda Heiderscheit   (2018)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Daniel Burdick   (2019)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Mary Horger    (2019)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Lacy Moon     (2019)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Kayla Morgan  (2019)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Kyle Anderson  (2016-2018)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Ellen Swartz   (2016-2017)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Mary Kate Horak  (2018-2019)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
Rosenfeld Fellow
​
Holly Appleton (2019-2020)
Undergraduate Honors Lab Assistant
Graham Redweik (2016-2021)
PhD Graduate USDA Fellow
Lauren Burrough (2020-2021)
Undergraduate Honors Lab assistant
Sasha Celada (2019-2021)
Undergraduate Lab Assistant
McNAIR Fellow
​
Laura Millage (2021)
Undergraduate Lab assistant
Luke Vaske (2021)
Undergraduate Lab assistant
Karen Vandervort (2020-2021)
Undergraduate Lab assistant
Visiting Scholars
Nick Gkourtsoulis  (Summer 2019)
Undergraduate
PERROTIS COLLEGE, American Farm School, Thessaloniki, Greece
Shelby Thomas (Summer 2019)
Undergraduate
Alabama A&M University
Hannah R. KLemmer (Summer 2018)
Undergraduate
North Carolina State University
Catherine Spivak (Summer 2017)
Undergraduate
Cornell University