(almost) The whole group as of June 2024
Team members listed roughly in order of how long they’ve been in the lab:
she/her @RogueRifter
Amy L. Hartman, PhD
ASSOCIATE Professor
Center for Vaccine Research.
Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, School of Public Health.
Always trying to get her life together.
Can often be found on a pool deck, either officiating or watching her kids swim.
she/her @goingviral88
Cynthia McMillen, PhD
Research assistant professor
Center for Vaccine Research.
Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, School of Public Health.
Rat Czarina. Leader of the Horns working group. Tea drinker. Newly minted recipient of K01.
she/her
Stacey Barrick
senior project coordinator
Herder of cats. Stacey gets stuff done. And makes sure we stay on track and out of trouble.
she/her @sciencekaleigh
Kaleigh Connors, MS PhD
Post-Doctoral Associate
Newly minted IDM PhD graduate (2025!)
Lead Neurovirologist. Fluorescent microscopist.
he/him
Ryan Hoehl
Research technician
Senior lab tech and lab manager. Coffee drinker.
Integral member of Horns working group. Rat Czar.
he/him
@ScienceJackson1
Jackson McGaughey
Research Technician
Pitt ‘22 grad (Molecular Biology and Chemistry).
RNA, organization, rodents, in-house mouse breeder. Scuba diver.
he/him
Zachary Frey
Research technician (former UndergraD)
Pitt ‘23 grad (Neuroscience Major).
Neuron slayer. Lanternflies working group member. Mouse & tissue grinder.
she/her @Rush_Phd
Rachael Rush, PhD
Post-doctoral fellow
Pittsburgh native and Pitt undergrad alum. Graduate of West Virginia University for her PhD.
Mouse Fancier. Lab party planner. Leader of Lanternflies working group. 2023-2024 President of the UPPDA (University of Pittsburgh Postdoctoral Association)
he/him @austin_hertel
Austin Hertel
PMI PhD Candidate
Third year student from the PMI program. Graduate of Gannon University (‘22). Wrestler and musician.
Milkman. Horns working group.
he/him
Cade Sterling
PMI PHD Candidate
Third year student from the PMI program. Coffee and whiskey aficionado. Graduate of the University of the South.
New Mouse Fancier. OB Lanternfly member. Fluorescent-virus maker.
she/her
Gia Romano
undergraduate student (BSPH)
Undergraduate student in the Bachelor’s of Public Health (BSPH) program.
Learning rodent breeding, genotyping, cell culture.
she/her
Maris Pedlow
Masters student (IDM)
Pitt ‘21 grad with major in French and Political Science. Will be working on neuro projects with Zach and Kaleigh.
he/him
Neal Gupta
undergraduate student (fe-R)
Freshman at Pitt in the First Experiences in Research (Fe-R) program. Neal will be working on molecular virology projects with Cindy McMillen.
she/her
Kim Bunce, PhD
Research Scientist
Center for Vaccine Research. PhD from UT Health Science Center (Houston).
they/them
Vax
red tailed hawk
Soars and occasionally stops outside our building
He/him
Nacho
Lab mascot
4-year old sheltie
Keeper of lab morale
Nacho at almost 1 year old!
Nacho living his best life
He assures everyone that he is, in fact, a very good boy
