Dr. Katrina Velle
Katrina Velle is a cell biologist interested in cytoskeleton-driven phenotypes and pathogenic microbes. She is investigating the contributions of actin networks to cell migration, cell division, and osmoregulation in Naegleria, including the “brain-eating amoeba.” She received her PhD in Molecular and Cell Biology from UConn in 2018, and is currently a postdoc in Dr. Fritz-Laylin’s lab at UMass Amherst. She is starting as an Assistant Professor and opening her lab at UMass Dartmouth in January, 2024. Her work has been supported by an NIH F32 fellowship (NIAID), an NIH K99/R00 Award (NIGMS), and Amazing Aven's Quest for Amoeba Awareness.
Samantha Jacques
Samantha Jacques is an undergraduate honors biology student at UMass Dartmouth. She is interested in biomedical science and plans to pursue an MD. She is also an avid reader and enjoys fantasy books.
Teodoro Tapia Carrasco
Teodoro Tapia Carrasco is an undergraduate at UMass Dartmouth, who aims to study microbiology and immunology, and has an interest in biochemistry! He is aiming for a Masters or PhD. He loves to hike, spend time in nature, and used to draw professionally!