Studies on pathobiology of medically important fungi especially of those causing cryptococcosis and aspergillosis.

Front row (left to right): Dr. Miwha Chang (Visiting fellow, 2016-2019), Ms. Shannon Moyer (Postbac Fellow, 2016-2018), Ms. Ami Khanal-Lamichhane (present member). Second row (left to right): Dr. Michael J. Davis (2015-2022), Dr. Amir Seyedmousavi (2017-2019), Dr. Yun C. Chang (present member, Staff Scientist), Dr. Dong-H. Yang (present member, visiting fellow).
K.J. Kwon-Chung, Ph.D.
Chief, Molecular Microbiology Section, LCIM
Education:
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison
B.S., M.S., Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea

Yun C. Chang, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Staff Scientist 2
Education:
University of California, Riverside, CA
Languages Spoken: Taiwanese, Mandarin
Pathobiology of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii; Mechanism of adaptive drug resistance in cryptococci. Cryptococcal genomics and aneuploid formation under azole stress. He trains new fellows on molecular manipulation and general laboratory protocol handling pathogenic fungi.

Ami Khanal-Lamichhane, M.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Biologist
Education:
M.S., Microbiology, Wayne State University, Detroit Michigan
Languages Spoken: Nepali, Hindi
Molecular biological technology used in genomic manipulation of fungal cells. Chromosome tagging with reporters in cryptococci.

Sujiraphong Pharkjaksu, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand
Languages Spoken: Thai
Mechanism of polyene susceptibility in environmental isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans. He is also interested in the mechanism of cryptococcal ux1 mutants in 5-FC resistance.
Dong-Hoon Yang, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Biotechnology, Younsei University, Seoul, Korea
Languages Spoken: Korean
His research is concentrating on the pathobiological differences between Cryptococcus gattii and Crptococcus neoformans: Differences in the risk factors of the infection by the two species, differences in the association of nitrogen source and 5-fluorocytosine resistance.

Former Research Group Members
Michael J. Davis, Ph.D. Advanced Molecular Transport in San Francisco
Amir Seyedmousavi, Ph.D. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Center, NIH
Edward Sionov, Ph.D. Head, Department of Food Sciences Institute of Postharvest and Food Sciences Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization Rishon LeZion, Israel
Ram Petter, Ph.D. Head of Biopharmaceuticals CMO operations, Teva, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Popchai Ngamskulrungroj, Ph.D. 2008-2012. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Brian L. Wickes, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Texas