The research group investigates the replication of poxviruses, viral immune defense proteins and recombinant vaccines against other viral pathogens including monkeypox virus, coronaviruses, and immunodeficiency viruses.

Members of Genetic Engineering Section Research Group
Members of Genetic Engineering Section Research Group
Bernard Moss, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief, Genetic Engineering Section
NIH Distinguished Investigator
Education:
Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.D., New York University School of Medicine
Dr. Moss received his M.D. from the New York University School of Medicine, interned at the Children's Hospital Medical Center (Boston), and then earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Moss is currently on the editorial boards of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Virology, and the NIH Catalyst. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland.

Jeffrey L. Americo, M.S.
Biologist
Education:
B.S., Biology, American University
M.S., Toxicology, American University
M.S., Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University

Catherine Anne Cotter, M.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Biologist
Education:
M.S., Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University
B.S., Biochemistry, Lancaster University (UK)
Basic poxvirus research. Study of vaccinia entry fusion proteins. Select agent work with monkeypox. Research into recombinant poxvirus vectored vaccines.

Patricia Lewise Earl, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Staff Scientist
Education:
Ph.D., University of Iowa
BA, Lawrence University

George C. Katsafanas, B.A.
Biologist
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree, biology/biological sciences, Loyla University of Chicago
Languages Spoken: Greek
I was born in Megalopoli Greece, and at the age eight my family moved to Chicago. While attending college i worked in a diverse array of jobs in order to pay for tuition. After graduation i worked for a number of years at the University of Chicago as a biologist before continuing my career at the National Institutes of Health. All in all, for a total of thirty-five years and counting.

Tatiana Georgia Koonin (Senkevich), Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Education:
PH.D., Moscow State University
Investigation of the functions of vaccinia virus genes involved in the interaction with the host innate immune response.

Andrea S. Weisberg, B.S.
Microbiologist
Education:
B.S., Pennsylvania State University
In 1995, I came to the Laboratory of Viral Diseases as an electron microscopist, to study the entry, assembly, morphology, and egress of viruses.

Yunliang Zhang, M.S. (He/Him/His)
Pre-doctoral Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Maryland
M.S., Indiana University of Bloomington
Languages Spoken: Chinese
I am a graduate student in Dr. Moss lab interested in investigating the mechanisms of virus replication and assembly, and the molecular machinery involved in the host-virus interaction, with particular focus on poxvirus.