People
Zach Lonergan, Assistant Professor
Originally from West Virginia, Zach graduated summa cum laude with a BS in Biology from West Virginia Wesleyan College before completing his PhD in Microbe-Host Interactions at Vanderbilt University in the lab of Dr. Eric Skaar. During his PhD, Zach investigated how the opportunistic pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii acquired nutrient zinc from the host. For his postdoctoral fellowship, Zach joined the lab of Dr. Dianne Newman at the California Institute of Technology, where he explored how the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa interfaced with the radical nitric oxide (NO). In his own lab, Zach is excited to apply biochemical and genetic approaches to dissect how microbes cope with NO in diverse environments. In his free time, Zach enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and running.
Alexandra Kwasnik, Graduate Student
Alexandra Kwasnik is a Master’s student in the Microbial Biology program. She graduated from James Madison University with a BS in Biology and a concentration in microbiology. She loves the invisible world of microbiology, which offers an opportunity to enhance our understanding of the human host's response to pathogenic organisms. In her free time, Alex enjoys building Legos, spending time with friends and family, going to the beach, and attending concerts.
Non-People
Maya
Maya is a people-loving yellow lab-mix who was rescued from a shelter but now is excessively spoiled. When she isn’t sleeping or chasing squirrels, she is constantly begging for food, of which her favorites are peanut butter, carrots, and popcorn.
Caesar
Caesar is somehow both fiercely independent and needy at the same time. He spends approximately 22 hours a day sleeping, but otherwise is playing with his stuffed monkey or is trying to steal dog treats.
