People

Frances E. Lund
Professor, Department of Microbiology
Endowed Chair in Immunology and Director, Immunology Institute
flund@uab.edu 
Hometown: Chicago, IL 
University/Degree: Univ. Notre Dame, BS Microbiology, Duke University, PhD

Troy D. Randall
Meyer Foundation, William J. Koopman Endowed Chair in Immunology
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology
troyrandall@uabmc.edu
Hometown: Columbia, MO
University/Degree: University of Denver, BS, Duke University, PhD

Selene Meza-Perez
Assistant Professor
selenemezaperez@uabmc.edu
University/Degrees: Biologist from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) BS, Immunologist from the National Polytechnic Institute Mexico (ENCB-IPN) PhD.
Research Interest: Characterization of the influence of microbiota in the metabolism of the immune responses developed in the adipose tissue in the context of cancer and inflammation
Hobbies: Hiking, Baking

Aaron Silva-Sanchez
Assistant Professor
aaronsilvasanchez@uabmc.edu
Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico
University: National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), BS, National Polytechique Institute (ENCB-IPN), PhD
Research Interest: My main interest is to understand the development of mucosal immune system development and how alterations during early neonatal period affect the response to further microbial challenges.

Davide Botta
Scientist IV
dbotta@uab.edu 
Hometown: Lariano (Rome), Italy 
University: Benedictine College, BS, University of Arizona, PhD
Research Interest: My research is disease-focused and at the cutting edge of early drug discovery. I investigate the metabolism of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD), the bioactive form of the vitamin niacin, and the roles that NAD-utilizing enzymes and NAD-derived molecules play in modulating cellular life/death decisions, inflammatory responses and tumor growth. My research interests also include investigating innate and adaptive immune responses to lung disease and infection using pre-clinical animal models of influenza, pulmonary fibrosis, ARDS and COVID-19.

Esther Zumaquero
Scientist II
ezm@uab.edu
University/Degrees: University of Granada, BS, University of Granada, PhD
Research Interest: My research interest in Dr. Lund’s Lab lies in the study of Human B Cells and B lineage Plasma Cells (PC), and include: 1) Understand how pro-inflammatory signals play a role in the commitment of B cells to the PC fate. 2) Identify new drugs to treat autoimmune diseases like SLE and RA, and determine whether those patients who have high levels of DN2 B cells in blood respond better to these drugs. 3) Describe new methods to grow, expand and maintain PC in vitro.
Hobbies: Sleeping, Mysteries TV Shows and Books, Zumba

Larisa Pereboeva
Scientist II
Lpereb@uab.edu
University/Degrees: MD (Biochemistry) from Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia; MS in Molecular Biology from North East Wales Institute, Wrexham, Wales; PhD in Virology State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector”, Koltsovo, Russia 
Research Interest: My research is aimed broadly at developing complex biologicals, such as genetically modified viruses and mammalian cells to apply as therapeutics in different pathologies or as research tools.  My research interest in Dr. Randall/Lund’s Lab lies in the characterization of SARS-COv2 specific B memory cells in different tissues. This includes analysis of antigen-specific B cell repertoire and exploits methodologies of the high-throughput expression of recombinant antibody derived from the antigen receptor genes of single-sorted B cells. 
Hobbies: Hiking, tennis, gardening, travel

Michael D. Schultz
Scientist II
mschul20@uab.edu
University/Degrees: University of Wisconsin Superior, BSc, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ph.D.
Research Interest: My first interest is in studying NAD metabolism in the context of cancers like Multiple Myeloma and autoimmune disorders like Lupus. I focus on the enzymes CD38, which is a multifunctional protein that catabolizes NAD into NAM, and NAMPT which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD salvage pathway. My second interest is testing novel vaccine designs for SARS and flu viruses and the effects of intranasal vaccine administration on the transmission rates of respiratory ailments.
Hobbies: I’m a digital artist, a writer, a pumpkin carver, and I ruin animal models fun.

Thomas ‘Scott’ Simpler
Scientist I
ssimpler@uab.edu
University/Degrees: B.S. Marine Biology – University of South Alabama
Research Interests: Animal Colony Management and Lab Supplies Procurement
Hobbies: Scuba Diving, Golf, and Fishing

Fen Zhou
Scientist I 
fzhou@uab.edu
University/Degree: Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, China. MS, MD
Research Interest: Human cell culture, mouse cell culture, compound screening, enzyme activity assays, phenotypic and functional assays, Elisa, cellular and molecular biology techniques, flow cytometry, human tissue processing, in vitro cytotoxicity assays, in vivo animal models of disease. 

Guang Yang
Scientist I
gyang@uab.edu
University/Degree: Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, MS, MD 
Research Interest: Molecular biology, Virology, ipsc, Protein expression and purification, Tetramer, imaging, Histochemistry. 

Jun Wang
Researcher V
feijun@uab.edu
University/Degrees: School of Medicine, Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China, MD
Research Interest: Translational medical research
Hobbies: Travel

Jobaida Akther
Researcher V
jobaida@uab.edu
University/Degrees: Gifu University, Japan, Ph.D.
Research Interest: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Protein Chemistry, Immunology
Hobbies: Reading, Travelling

Md. Emon Hossain
Researcher V
emon@uab.edu
University/Degrees: Shimane University, Japan, Ph.D.
Research Interest: Memory B Cells, Respiratory Infectious Diseases, Cellular Reprogramming and Stem Cells.
Hobbies: Soccer and Traveling

Rebecca Burnham
Researcher V
rcocker1@uab.edu
University/Degrees: University of Alabama at Birmingham – B.S.
Research Interest: Colony management, Genetics, Microbiology, Immunology 
Hobbies: Micro-Farming, Environmental Conservation, Bowling 

Kelsey Browning
Researcher III
kelseysb@uab.edu
University/Degrees: University of Alabama at Birmingham – B.S.
Research Interest: Surgery, Immunology, Microbiology 
Hobbies: I am in the Alabama Paleontological Society and Alabama Mineral and Lapidary Society so I collect a lot of gems, minerals, and fossils. I love to travel and visit national parks. I do wildlife and landscape photography. I enjoy astronomy and have started doing astro-photography. I love animals and keeping exotic pets. I enjoy being outdoors and love to kayak. I am a cat-lover and I know way too much useless information about dinosaurs. Oh and I am an artist and I do art commissions.

Chris A. Risley
Postdoctoral Fellow
crisley@uab.edu
University/Degrees: B.Sc Biology and German Studies, Centre College
Research Interests: I am interested in the transcriptional regulation of memory B cells (Bmem), specifically how certain Bmem are pre-disposed to participate in recall responses. I use a combination of transcriptomics, in vivo, and in vitro techniques to determine how these cells are functionally distinct, observe their phenotype, and determine functional outputs.
Hobbies: I enjoy hiking with the squad: my wife, my 8 month old son, and our big loveable doofus of a golden retriever, as well as cooking, and feeding my caffeine addiction.

Jeongsoo Lee
Postdoctoral Fellow
jlee54@uab.edu
University/Degrees: College of Medicine, Korea University, M.D., Korea Institute of Advanced Science and Technology (KAIST), Ph.D.
Research Interests: Memory and effector B cell responses in various clinical situations such as viral/bacterial infections, vaccinations, autoimmune diseases and transplantation.
Hobbies: Outdoor/indoor sports, hiking, video games and movies

Susana Cheetham
Graduate Student
cheetham@uab.edu
University/Degrees: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, BS Medical Laboratory Technology/Clinical Laboratory Science; University of Leicester, UK, MS Infection and Immunity
Research Interests: I am interested in the immunological mechanisms involved in the control and prevention of infectious diseases. My research work in the Randall lab will include working with flu infection models (Influenza A) to investigate the role of the gut microbiota in modulating immune responses to flu infection.
Hobbies: Reading, Traveling and Baking 

Ashley Denslow
Graduate Student
adenslow@uab.edu
University/Degrees: Biomedical Sciences BS at the University of South Florida, Pharmaceutical nanotechnology MS at the University of South Florida
Research interests: Autoimmunity, epigenetic, bioinformatics, memory B cells, plasma cells, and molecular biology
Hobbies: Beekeeping, reading, and exploring nature

Blaine Johnston
Graduate Student
blaine18@uab.edu
University/Degrees: Undergraduate Immunology Program and Chemistry, UAB
Research interests: Developing a model for B cell specific deletion of genes utilizing lentivirus and CRISPR-Cas9 technology
Hobbies: Taking my cat on backpack trips

Arash B. Abadi
Graduate Student
abaghera@uab.edu
University/Degrees: University of Mohaghegh Ardabili – BS Molecular and Cellular Biology
Research interests: The intersection of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, bioinformatics, machine learning, and immune cell biology – particularly B cells and regulatory T cells.
Hobbies: Hiking, Camping, Pickleball, Reading 

Sarah Terapane
Undergraduate Student
terapane@uab.edu
University/Degrees:
Hobbies: