Meet the Team
Becca Martin,PhD
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Flow Cytometry Shared Resource Director
Dionna Long, PhD Student
Hi, I’m Dee! I’m the cool kid in the lab. I enjoy being social, talking about sports and friendly competitions. I’m from North Carolina, attended undergrad in South Carolina. Love the Carolinas. My research interests consist of allergy induced inflammation. Immune cell mediated inflammation, and dendritic cell polarization.
Current research: IL-33/ST2 signaling axis in T-cell polarization in allergy model; Glutamine metabolism in cDcs and downstream polarization
Fun facts: I’ve bowled a perfect game and I was previously a collegiate athlete
Parth Naik, PhD Student
Hey! I’m Parth, the group’s listener. I enjoy lightening the mood and making people laugh. I’m usually the one planning games and sports—even if I’m not the best at playing them!
My current research focuses on understanding how iron metabolism influences asthma severity
Madison Isbell, PhD Student
Cindy Ventura, Undergraduate Student (Senior) , Honors College Student
Hi! I’m Cindy, the baby of the lab >:). I’m an undergraduate biology student and honors college student. My current research focuses on T cell polarization in pollen allergy. Last semester, I presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)! I love Latin dance, playing video games, and listening to all types of music. But most of all, I love our lab starbies sessions <3
Fun fact: I’m a first-gen student!
Carmen Camarena, PhD Candidate
Araba Abaidoo-Myles, PhD Candidate
Hey there! I’m Araba Myles, a PhD student by day and a self acclaimed neighbourhood spiderman by night.
My research focuses on how Hif 1 alpha regulates T cell polarization in Atopic Dermatits. When I’m not buried in papers or playing with mice in the lab, you’ll probably find me on the treadmill, signing up for the next closest race, hanging out with friends or catching a RAMS game at the siegel center. I’m curious about new ideas, lowkey obsessed with learning and almost one dirty matcha away from my scietinfic breakthrough!
Fun fact: Je parle un peu Francais :)
Zaynah Garcia, PhD Student
Hey I’m Zaynah I’m a 2nd-year Chemical Biology PhD student originally from Long Island, New York. After earning my Bachelor’s in Chemistry from Spelman College, I joined the lab to investigate glutaminase 1 inhibitors and their potential to modulate allergen-activated inflammation. Outside the lab, I love baking and rewatching Harry Potter movies.
Fun fact: I have an identical twin sister!
Raesa Zia M.S, Master’s Student
Hi I’m Raesa and my research interests include Gene therapy and vaccine development. In the lab, I work on Hif-1 alpha Downstream Gene expression and histology for Atopic Dermatitis.
Outside the lab I enjoy painting, watching movies, swimming
Previous conference: VAS