The folks that make it all worthwhile.

Esther Tok

Esther is an undergraduate at Stanford University majoring in biology on the ecology evolution track. They are passionate in everything mycology, especially zoosporic fungi. Polycentric chytrid growth and the ecological role of aquatic chytrids are topics especially interesting to them. They also are a docent at Stanford’s Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and is currently working with the Oakmead herbarium team to establish JRBP’s first fungarium collection. In the Peay lab, Dr. Louis Berrios is mentoring them on how to isolate and culture Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium from ECM fungi.
Outside of academics, they enjoy foraging, painting, and bouldering on the Stanford Climbing Team.

Anastacia Del Rio

Anastacia Del Rio is an undergraduate studying bioengineering and earth systems science at Stanford University. She is working with Dr. Louis Berrios to explore the functions and genetic pathways in soil bacteria and their relationships with ectomycorrhizal fungi and Bishop pines. She also advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion through her involvement with student organizations. Anastacia hopes to pursue a career researching and developing synthetic genetic circuits for applications in sustainable agriculture.

Eunice De Belen

Eunice De Belen is an undergraduate student, pursuing a B.S. in Biology, at Stanford University. Eunice grew up in the Philippines and moved to Guam, where her interest in the medical field was fostered. Eunice is passionate about learning ways we can use knowledge on genetics to mitigate and solve problems that surround us. As she lived on a beautiful island, she developed a curiosity in knowing more about marine life, microbiology, and our environment. Outside of her academic interests, Eunice loves photography, reading books, watching movies, and running.

Adamari Preciado

My name is Adamari, and I will soon be a senior in high school. Working alongside Dr. Louis Berrios, I will have the opportunity to explore new interests in biology, particularly those related to the environment. I am eager to learn about different types of bacteria and fungi and how they interact with plants. I am also interested in the skin cells that are impacted by cancer, which is why I like the field of molecular and cellular biology. Later, I want to conduct studies to learn more about how to prevent such a terrible disease while also raising awareness among people who are less aware about it. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new burger joints, boba shops, and dumpling places. I also enjoy participating in issues that are important to me and having a voice that I can use to encourage others.

Lexi Triantis

Lexi Triantis is an undergraduate at Harvard considering a concentration in molecular and cellular biology or social studies with a focus on public health. Under the direction of Dr. Louis Berrios, she is examining the mechanisms by which bacteria and ectomycorrhizas interact to support the growth of Bishop pines. She is interested in plant ecology as well as understanding the human microbiome. Lexi enjoys teaching ESL and advocating for housing justice in the Boston area, and swims on her school’s club team. 

Madison Romain

Madison Romain is a current undergraduate student at Stanford University. She plans on declaring as a bioengineering major with interests in plant biology and earth sciences. At Stanford, Madison is a hurdler on the varsity track and field team as well as the secretary of Cardinal BLCK, the black student athlete organization, and a member Stanford’s chapter for the Society of Black Scientists and Engineers. 

Jana Liese is a MD/PhD student at Washington University School of Medicine. She graduated in 2020 with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of South Carolina and then completed a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the National Institutes of Health where her work focused on developing vaccines for pandemic influenza viruses. For her thesis work at WashU, she joined the lab of Sean Whelan, where she studies the attachment and entry mechanisms of emerging Bunyaviruses. Email: j.liese@wustl.edu

Nadia Holness is a PhD candidate at the University of Virginia. She was an NIH Post Baccalaureate Scholar at the University of South Carolina where she performed genome comparisons of Caulobacter crescentus bacteriophages isolated from natural environments. Her research has led her to several, other universities – Georgetown University, University of Texas, Austin, Hampton University – with prestigious honors such as being a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. Now, as a HHMI Fellow, she investigates host cell defense mechanisms during the Toxoplasma infection process using a novel, spatial proteomics technology. Email: nh2uf@virginia.edu

Nick Rivers

Nicholas Rivers received his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of South Carolina (USC) in 2019. During his time at USC, he worked as my teaching assistant for Bacteriology 550L. After graduating, Nicholas worked as a microbiologist at Bausch and Lomb and then – roughly two years later – secured a position as a scientist at ZeptoMetrix. Currently, Nicholas works as a virologist at ATCC where he works in a BSL3 lab, producing products for NiAID, the CDC, and other governmental agencies. Email: nickoriverss@gmail.com

Rishi Suresh

Rishi Suresh obtained is Bachelor in Applied Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at USC in 2021. During his time as an undergraduate researcher, he isolated Caulobacter strains and their bacteriophages from natural environments. He now is a third year medical student at MUSC in Charleston where he conducts neurosurgery research and decodes movement states in chronic stroke patients using machine learning techniques. Email: rishishankar23@gmail.com

Quill Thomas

Quill Thomas obtained his B.S. in biology from the University of South Carolina. During his time as an undergraduate researcher, he isolated and characterized bacteriophages that infect Caulobacter crescentus. He now works as a research technician at USC where he shares his technical expertise and supervises the zebrafish facility in the Poulain lab. Email: cmt2@email.sc.edu

Michael Hils

Michael Hils earned his B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish from the University of South Carolina. His undergraduate research focused on the characterization of a newly isolated bacteriophage strain, AA, which infects some strains of Brevundimonas bacteria. Michael currently performs bilingual social work at a nonprofit primary care in West Columbia, and has committed to Duke University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Class of 2026.

Maegan Albert

Maegan Albert received her B.S. in Biology from the University of South Carolina. Her undergraduate research focused on phylogenetic analyses of bacteriophages that infect Caulobacter species. She has since set aside her academic career and works as a farmer in South Carolina – where she hopes to continue tending to her soon-to-be naked neck chickens and Nubian + Angora goats.

Eva Zaragoza

Eva Zaragoza is a current physician assistant student at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine with a special interest in dermatology and family medicine. She earned her B.Sc. in Public Health at USC. And during her time as an undergraduate researcher, she conducted experiments isolating and characterizing Caulobacter crescentus and other Alphaproteobacteria along with their respective bacteriophages. Due to graduate May 2023, she hopes to deliver compassionate and quality-driven health care to medically underserved populations of South Carolina.

Austin Millwood

Austin Millwood is a senior undergraduate student who is pursuing a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Anthropology at the University of South Carolina. His undergraduate research has focused on the isolation and genomic sequencing of new bacteriophages. Austin plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Forensic or Biological Anthropology.