The research goals in the Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit (MPEU) are to study the biology of the malaria parasite by characterizing essential vector-parasite and host-parasite interactions shaping malaria transmission. The long-term goal is to identify new targets that could be exploited for malaria interventions including chemotherapy, vaccine development, and transgenic mosquitoes.
Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit, May 2022: (left to right) Joel Vega-Rodriguez, Principal Investigator; Medard Ernest Kaiza, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow; Zarna Rajeshkumar Pala, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow; Francis Monique de Souza Saraiva, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow; Thiago Luiz Alves e Silva, Research Fellow; and Brendan Sweeney, Postbaccalaureate trainee.
Joel Vega-Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Earl Stadtman Investigator, NIH Distinguished Scholar
Chief, Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit
Education:
Ph.D., 2008, Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico, San Juan
Dr. Joel Vega-Rodriguez received his Ph.D. in molecular biology in 2008 at the Rio Piedras Campus of the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan. In 2009 he joined the laboratory of Dr. Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena at the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute, where he did his postdoctoral training and later became a research associate. In 2018, Dr. Vega-Rodriguez became a Stadtman tenure-track investigator in the Laboratory of Malaria and Vector Research.
Kelly N. Hanner, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Postbaccalaureate trainee
Education:
Bachelor of Science, Biology, University at Fredonia, The State University of New York
Kelly’s research at the Molecular Parasitology and Entomology Unit focuses on implementing conditional knockdown/knockout systems to study essential genes in the mosquito midgut stage of Plasmodium falciparum.
Medard Ernest Kaiza, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow
Languages Spoken: Japanese, Swahili, Haya
My research work is to investigate the mechanisms by which the human malaria parasite evades host immunity, specifically the complement system. Findings from my work might inform on novel ways of developing effective antimalarial therapeutics
Heather Michelle Kudyba, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Postdoctoral fellow
My research focuses on implementing various conditional knockdown/knockout systems to study essential genes in the mosquito midgut stage of Plasmodium falciparum.
Zarna Rajeshkumar Pala, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow
Languages Spoken: Hindi, Gujarati
I am a trained molecular biologist with specific interest in metabolic pathways functional in the apicoplast of Plasmodium. In the Vega-Rodriguez lab, I am interested in the biochemical/functional characterization of mosquito salivary proteins and their role in Plasmodium infection and transmission.
Francis Monique de Souza Saraiva, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Biosciences, emphasis in Biochemistry, 2019, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil
M.Sc., Biosciences, emphasis in Biochemistry, 2015, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil
B.Sc., Biology, 2012, Rio de Janeiro State University, Brazil
Languages Spoken: Portuguese
Thiago Luiz Alves e Silva, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Research Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Microbiology and Immunology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
Languages Spoken: Portuguese
Former Research Group Members
Tales Pascini, Ph.D., Former Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, currently at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research.
Yeong Je Jeong, MS, Former Postbaccalaureate, currently at George Washington Medical School.
Janet Olivas, Bs, Former Postbaccalaureate, currently a Graduate Student at New York University.
Brendan Sweeney, Bs, Former Postbaccalaureate, currently at George Washington Medical School.
Malika Saxena, Bs, Former Postbaccalaureate