J. Scott VanEpps, M.D. PhD, FACEP
Principle Investigator/Associate Professor
​
Education:
B.S Molecular Biology, University of Pittsburgh
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Pittsburgh
Ph.D. Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh
MD. University of Pittsburgh
​
Interests:
Life-threatening infection
​​
​Contact: jvane@med.umich.edu
​
Erika Martinez-Nieves, M.S.
Laboratory Manager/Research Specialist
​
Education:
B.S. Physics, University of Puerto Rico
B.S. Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico
M.S. Biochemistry, University of Michigan
Ann Arbor
​
Interests:
Antimicrobial materials; innovation and commercialization
​
Contact: erikamn@med.umich.edu
Shamalee Goonetilleke, B.S.
Graduate student, Macromulecular Science and Engineering
​
Education:
B.S Material Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
​
Interests:
Nanotopography and bacteriology
​
Contact: shamalee@umich.edu
Lauren Bonnet, B.S.
Research Specialist
​
Education:
B.S. Biology, University of Texas, San Antonio
​
Interests:
Neuropathology; Host-Microbiome Interactions; Medical device infection
​
Contact: lbonnett@med.umich.edu
Katrina Muraglia, M.D. Ph.D.
Resident Physician, Emergency Medicine
​​
Education:
B.S English/Biology, University of Michigan
Ph.D. Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
M.D. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
​
Interests:
Endothelial injury and critical care
​
Contact: kdiaz@med.umich.edu
​
Linqi Huang
Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering
​
​Interests:
Biofilm rheology, medical device infection
​
Contact: linqih@umich.edu
​
Joey Melaragni
Undergraduate researcher
​​
​Interests:
Microbiology
​​
Contact: melaragn@umich.edu
​
Vishwaratn (Vishu) Asthana, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Instructor, Internal Medicine
​
Education:
B.S. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Caltech
Ph.D. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Rice University
M.D. Baylor College of Medicine
​
Interests:
Bacterial detection and nucleic acid assays​
​
Contact: asthanav@med.umich.edu
Ian Brodka, M.D.
Resident Physician, Emergency Medicine
​
Education:
B.S. Chemistry, University of Rochester
M.D. University of Rochester
​
Interests:
Critical care, ventilator associated pneumonia, antibiotic resistance​
​
Contact: brodkaia@med.umich.edu
Catherine Wellman, B.S.
Research Specialist
​
Education:
B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University
​​
Interests:
Rapid diagnostics and nucleic acid ​purification
​
Contact: wellmaca@med.umich.edu
Clara Smith
Undergraduate researcher​
​Interests:
Bacterial detection and nucleic acid assays​
​
Contact: claraes@umich.edu
Owen Chun
Undergraduate researcher
​​
​Interests:
Public Health & Infectious Diseases
​
Contact: owenchun@umich.edu
Pallavi Bugga, Ph.D., J.D.
Research consultant
​
Education:
B.S. Chemistry, Caltech
Ph.D. Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering, Rice University
J.D. University of Michigan
​
Interests:
Bacterial detection and nucleic acid assays
​
Contact: pbugga@med.umich.edu
​
Samha Amin
Undergraduate researcher
​
​Interests:
RNA isolation and gene expression
​
Contact: samhaa@umich.edu
​
Yusuf Halilovic
Undergraduate researcher
​​
​Interests:
TBD
​​
Contact: yhalil@umich.edu
​​
Farhan Ibrahim
Undergraduate researcher
​​​
​Interests:
TBD
​​​
Contact: farhani@umich.edu
​​