The VIPU’s primary goal is to gain fundamental insights into the biology of antiviral effector cells in both peripheral and lymphoid tissues. The VIPU seeks to better understand the mechanisms employed by lymphocytes to control viral infection over the entirety of the immune response.
Heather Hickman, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Chief, Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit
Education:
Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Cynthia Celeste Aguilar, M.Sc. (She/Her/Hers)
IRTA Post-bac
Education:
M.Sc., Interdisciplinary Studies, Biomedical Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, 2020, University of Central Florida The Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando
B.A. Interdisciplinary Studies, Physical Sciences and Behavioral and Social Sciences (Minor in Global Peace and Security), 2017, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Languages Spoken: Spanish, French

Morgan Erin Brisse, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Post-doctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota
B.S., Biochemistry with honors, University of Michigan

Joanna M. Droppo, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
IRTA Post-bac
Education:
B.S., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Anurag Kalia, M.Sc., Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Doctor
Education:
Doctorate, National Institute of Immunology, Delhi, India
M.Sc., Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India
Languages Spoken: Hindi

Andy Lujan, R.N. (He/Him/His)
Pre-Doctoral Fellow
Education:
BSN, The University of Texas at El Paso
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Luxin Pei, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Post-doctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., NIH-Johns Hopkins University Graduate Partnership Program
B.S., The Pennsylvania State University
Languages Spoken: Mandarin

Glennys V. Reynoso, R.N., B.S.
Biologist
Education:
B.S., University of Tampa
B.S.N., Marrymount University
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Olivia Wise-Dent, B.A.
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Education:
B.A., Animal Science, minor in Infectious Disease, Cornell University

Former Research Group Members
2013-2015, Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), Kendall (Karpe) Haddad, B.S., D.M.M., School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, M.M.Sc., Harvard School of Dental Medicine
2014, Summer Student, Shermaine Hutchins, B.S., M.P.H., Yale University School of Public Health, Wyandot County Public Health, Ohio
2014-2016, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Ryan Carlson, B.S., M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine
2016-2018, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Jack Chovanec, B.S., M.D., University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health
2018-2020, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Jiwon Kim, B.S., M.S., M.S., Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin
2019, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Peter Balough, B.S., RA Capital Management
2019-2021, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Young Hwan Park, Ph.D., Andong National University, Korea