Who We Are

I feel so fortunate to mentor and interact with talented, creative, young researchers in my group and across campus. I enjoy teaching several courses including Molecular Microbiology and Cell & Molecular Biology. I love the challenges and rewards of engaging in science communication as a TEDx speaker, a story teller, a standup comedian, and even as a cast member of a musical about antibiotics! Outside of lab I’m centered by my time with my wife and our two adult boys, rock climbing, listening to live music, and traveling.

I completed my BS in Neurobiology and Physiology with a minor in astronomy at the University of Maryland in 2014. There, I worked with Dr. Wade Winkler on RNA binding protein domains in pathogenic bacteria. Currently, I am a 5th year PhD candidate in the Quantitative Biosciences PhD program. I work on understanding the evolutionary effects of the Type Six Secretion System. I enjoys climbing, woodworking, reading books, and pickleball. Go find me at the workshop or the climbing gym!

I earned both my BS in Chemical and Biological Engineering and MS in Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Buffalo. There, I worked on a test for cardiovascular disease and studied the impact of polymicrobial interactions between UTI pathogens. Before coming to GT, I worked as a technician at UNC Chapel Hill, testing drugs for treating intracellular pathogens, including Leishmania. Currently, I’m a doctoral candidate in the Hammer lab. I am implementing bacterial communication and sensing machinery as components of novel diagnostic tools. Outside the lab, I enjoy reading books, swimming, and baking.

I completed my BS in Environmental Science at UNC-Chapel Hill, investigating the interbacterial killing mechanisms of a beneficial symbiont of the squid Euprymna scolopes. After graduation, I worked as a lab technician at UNC-CH studying the cost of T6SS and biofilm formation in Vibrio fischeri, and developed microscopy-based assays for quantification. In the Hammer Lab, I’m focusing on coral-bacteria interactions by developing molecular genetic tools for a ubiquitous bacterium associated with coral health. Outside of lab, I enjoy fiber arts, cooking, and dancing.

I am working toward BS degrees in Biology and Biochemistry. In the Hammer Lab, I have been investigating the cellular mechanism that drives multicellularity in a novel multicellular prokaryote, HS3. I also have interests in computational biology, human disease, and machine learning models for de novo protein design. I enjoy hiking, traveling, and cooking in my free time. 

I’m a fourth year studying biology and health policy/economics. In the Hammer Lab, I investigate the genetic mechanisms behind bacterial multicellular behavior and quorum sensing regulation. I love taking pictures (both on the microscope and outside the lab), and discovering new music and films.

I am a third year student studying biology. In the Hammer Lab, I’ve worked on projects using bacterial genetic manipulation to create a “probiotic vaccine” against the flu virus, as well as investigating T6SS in the coral pathogen, Vibrio coralliilyticus. In my free time, I enjoy baking, hiking, and kayaking.

I am a 3rd year student studying biochemistry. Currently I am working in the Hammer lab on a project testing an understudied bacterial communication system in a controlled cell-free environment. Our goal is to use this system for synthetic biology applications. In my free time, I like to play basketball and watch sports, as well as play the guitar.

I am a biology undergraduate student. I joined the Hammer lab in August 2025. Currently I am interested in studying the Type 6 Secretion System found in different bacteria. I enjoy playing the trombone, hiking, and watching movies!