People
Principal Investigator | Melissa Ellermann, Ph.D.
Melissa earned her Ph.D. at UNC-Chapel Hill in Balfour Sartor's lab. Her graduate studies focused on how dietary iron alters the gut microbiota and how these changes impact risk for inflammatory bowel diseases. She also collected and smashed lots of mouse poop, a cutting-edge strategy used by researchers to sample the gut microbiota. She continued her mouse poop research as a postdoctoral fellow in Janelle Arthur's lab, where she investigated how dysregulated iron metabolism in E. coli - strains that naturally live in our guts - can promote fibrosis, a serious complication of many inflammatory diseases. Melissa completed her postdoctoral training at UT Southwestern in Vanessa Sperandio's lab. There, she studied how our body's lipid hormones (specifically endocannabinoids) can regulate the virulence of foodborne pathogens like Salmonella and enterohemorrhagic E. coli - the very culprit responsible for the periodic mass disappearances of romaine lettuce from grocery store shelves. Melissa is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina. |
Ph.D. Research Assistant | Mary Mitchell
USC SPARC Grant Recipient & SC INBRE SIRP Recipient Mary is a third year graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology. She is from Manchester, TN where she lived until moving to Knoxville, TN for her undergraduate studies. She completed her undergraduate degree in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering with a double major in Microbiology at the University of Tennessee. Her undergraduate research consisted of identifying genetic determinants of cold storage survival of Campylobacter jejuni in a microbiology lab, separating ionic species across a cation exchange membrane in a chemical engineering lab, and coatings and adhesives materials science research in industry. Mary is interested in Molecular Biology and Microbiology and is particularly interested in studying the interactions between the gut microbiome and host cells. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading a good book, and spending time with her cat, Atlas. |
Research Technician | Lauren van de Wal
Lauren is a recent graduate from the University of South Carolina where she earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences. Lauren is from Norfolk, VA and she loves reading, cooking, and spending time with family and friends in her free time! She is very interested in the research process and is excited to learn more about the effects of the gut microbiome on the host. Lauren is extremely passionate about animals, and she hopes to attend veterinary school in the near future. She hopes to one day be able to travel and provide veterinary services for animals in need. |
M.S. Research Assistant | Mikayla Carty
Mikayla grew up in Philadelphia, PA before attending the University of South Carolina where she earned her B.S. in Biological Sciences. She is now working towards earning her M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Mikayla has a strong passion for both science and art, as she minored in art studio, and wants to continue to pursue these passions in her future career. Mikayla began her graduate studies in a plant biology lab and has since joined Dr. Ellermann’s lab to focus her research on how lipids affect intestinal health and the gut microbiome. When not in the lab, Mikayla enjoys walking her dog, Luci, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. |
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Luke Stasikelis
USC Magellan Scholar Award Recipient Luke is senior in the Department of Mathematics. He is most interested in research that could positively impact human health and the treatment of disease. Since June 2021, he has worked in Dr. Ellermann’s lab, examining gut bacteria and factors leading to virulence. He is from Greenville, South Carolina and enjoys a wide variety of music, especially 90’s alternative. |
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Claire Kunkle
USC Magellan Scholar Award & Mini-grant Recipient
USC Honors College SURF Recipient
Claire is a senior Biology Major with a minor in Mathematics. She is currently on the pre-med track and with the goal of one day working in internal medicine. Her research interests lie in the fields of Pathology and Immunology. Claire was born in Charleston, South Carolina and although she lives in Columbia now, she still makes frequent visits back to see her dog, Lucy. In her free time Claire likes to watch terrible horror movies and spend time outside in nature.
USC Magellan Scholar Award & Mini-grant Recipient
USC Honors College SURF Recipient
Claire is a senior Biology Major with a minor in Mathematics. She is currently on the pre-med track and with the goal of one day working in internal medicine. Her research interests lie in the fields of Pathology and Immunology. Claire was born in Charleston, South Carolina and although she lives in Columbia now, she still makes frequent visits back to see her dog, Lucy. In her free time Claire likes to watch terrible horror movies and spend time outside in nature.
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Olivia Rometo
Olivia is a sophomore Biology major in the lab. She is originally from Marietta, Georgia.
Olivia is a sophomore Biology major in the lab. She is originally from Marietta, Georgia.
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Mary Archambault
Mary is a sophomore Public Health major and Biology minor on the pre-med track. She is most interested in research that involves the intersection between infectious disease and public health as well as clinical treatments of Crohn’s Disease. Mary is from Charleston, SC and enjoys running half marathons in her free time. |
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Andrew Pana
Andrew is a sophomore on the pre-med track, and double-majoring in Biology and Spanish. He is interested in research with applications to human health, and the fields of pathology, cell and molecular biology, and gastroenterology. He hopes to attend medical school and specialize in emergency medicine or surgery. Andrew is from Chaska, Minnesota, and greatly appreciates the change in weather that South Carolina has to offer. In his free time, Andrew enjoys eating sushi, being active, and volunteering in the community. |
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Hermella Demsie
Hermella is a freshman Biology major with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. Her research interests include microbiology and pathology. Hermella is from Charlotte, NC, and she likes to read, take day trips to the beach or mountains, and listen to R&B music in her free time.
Hermella is a freshman Biology major with a minor in Chemistry on the pre-med track. Her research interests include microbiology and pathology. Hermella is from Charlotte, NC, and she likes to read, take day trips to the beach or mountains, and listen to R&B music in her free time.
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Thelma Zaw
USC Magellan Journey Award Recipient Thelma is a sophomore Cardiovascular Technology major pursuing double minors in Anthropology in Chemistry. She is currently on the pre-med track and hoping to establish a career within Internal Medicine. Her research interests include histology, the gut-microbiome and GI-related inflammatory diseases. She grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada but now lives in Greenville, South Carolina. She greatly values diversity of thought and conversation and is working on establishing a podcast with her sister. |
Undergraduate Research Assistant | Addison Budsberg
USC Magellan Journey Award Recipient Addison is a sophomore neuroscience major from The Woodlands, Texas, and is currently on the path to medical school! Her research interests lie in oncology, immunology, pathology, and virology in order to better comprehend how disease affects the body and what lifestyle and/or genetic factors influence its effect. She is a strong advocate for mental health and encouraging people to take care of themselves in order to care for others. |
Summer Undergraduate Student | Michael Austin
SC-ADAR Research Fellow
Michael Austin is a junior Biology major and Chemistry minor at Claflin University. He is originally from Statesboro, Georgia. His summer research project involves using histopathology analysis to observe the development of intestinal inflammation. In his free time, he likes to skateboard and listen to music - especially from the 90s or early 2000s.
SC-ADAR Research Fellow
Michael Austin is a junior Biology major and Chemistry minor at Claflin University. He is originally from Statesboro, Georgia. His summer research project involves using histopathology analysis to observe the development of intestinal inflammation. In his free time, he likes to skateboard and listen to music - especially from the 90s or early 2000s.
Lab Alumni - Where are they now?
Former Graduate Research Assistant
Tessa Cox, M.S. | First Ellermann Lab graduate! | Pathologists Assistant program
Former Undergraduate Research Assistants
Colin Finney, B.S. | USC Magellan Scholar Award & Mini-grant Recipient | DVM program
Elisa Carrillo, B.S. | USC Honors College Thesis | MD program
Tessa Cox, M.S. | First Ellermann Lab graduate! | Pathologists Assistant program
Former Undergraduate Research Assistants
Colin Finney, B.S. | USC Magellan Scholar Award & Mini-grant Recipient | DVM program
Elisa Carrillo, B.S. | USC Honors College Thesis | MD program