Meet the
Team
Kim Klonowski, PhD
Principal Investigator
Kim is from Newark, Delaware, and started the lab in 2006. She studied at the University of Delaware. She then got a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from Temple University. Her scientific hero is Rachel Carson and has an irrational fear of clowns. Outside of the lab, she is an avid gardener.
Matthew R. Hansen
Graduate Research Assistant
Matthew is from Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, and joined the lab in 2023. He studied at Lake Superior State University. His scientific hero is Louis Pasteur and has an irrational fear of giant grasshoppers. Outside of the lab, Matthew loves to whitewater kayaking.
Disha Bangalore Renuka Prasad
Graduate Research Assistant
Disha is from Bengaluru, India, and joined the lab in Spring 2023. She graduated from BMS College of Engineering in Bengaluru, India. Her scientific hero is Jennifer Doudna and has an irrational fear of getting stuck and crushed in an escalator. Outside of the lab, Disha cooks, reads, and does yoga.
Mauhaun Taheri
Graduate Research Assistant
Mauhaun is from Huntsville, Alabama, and he joined the lab in Fall 2025. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). His scientific hero is Edward Jenner and has an irrational fear of wasps. Outside of the lab, Mauhaun plays tennis, cooks, bakes, and takes care of his beloved house plants.
Medhini Anand
Student Volunteer
Medhini is from Alpharetta, Georgia and joined the lab in Fall 2022. She graduated from the University of Georgia in 2026 with a B.S. in Cellular Biology. Her scientific hero is Rosalind Franklin and has an irrational fear of legumes. Outside of the lab, she loves to read and listen to music.
Isabella Ellis
Undergraduate Student
Isabella is from Memphis, Tennessee, and she joined the lab in Fall 2025. She is a second-year microbiology and cellular biology student. Her scientific hero is Katherine Johnson and has an irrational fear of falling from large heights. Outside of the lab, she loves to bake, run, and play with dachshunds.
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Chloe Do
Undergraduate Student
Chloe is from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and joined the lab in Fall 2025. She is a first-year student. Her scientific hero is Marie Curie and has an irrational fear of cockroaches creeping onto her bed at night. Outside of the lab, she loves cafe hopping, cooking, photography, collecting blind boxes, and doing yoga.
Alumni
Optional text section but not necessary to include
Graduate
Hometown, Occupation, Scientific Hero
Christopher Slade, Ph.D.
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Hometown: Lawrenceville, GA
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Occupation: Member of antibody discovery team at Sanofi, Boston, MA
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Scientific Hero: John Snow
Brett Marshall, M.S.
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Hometown: Lafayette, IN
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Occupation: Research Professional I, Department of Poultry Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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Scientific Hero: Rosalind Franklin
Katie (Reagin) Kudybe, Ph.D.
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Hometown: Hampton, GA
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Occupation: Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, FL
Hillary Shane, Ph.D.
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Hometown: Shickshinney, PA
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Occupation: Principal Scientist, Dragonfly Therapeutics, Inc., Waltham, MA (2025)
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Scientific Hero: Rosalind Franklin
David Rose, Ph.D.
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Hometown: Gallitzin, PA
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Occupation: Director, Flow Cytometry Core Laboratory at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.
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Scientific Hero: Niels Bohr
Mauz Ibrahim, M.S., M.D.
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Hometown: Warner Robins, GA
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Occupation: Partner Radiologist, Northside Radiology Associates, Atlanta, Ga
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Scientific Hero: Vivien Thomas
Katherine Verbist, Ph.D.
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Hometown: Memphis, TN
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Occupation: Manager of Laboratory Operators, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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Scientific Hero: Kim Klonowski
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Undergraduates
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Medhini Anand (2022-2025); Current placement: Klonowski lab volunteer as she interviews for medical school; Athens, GA.
Aishwarya Jaya Rallabhandy (2022-2024); Current placement: Medical student at Medical College of Georgia
Luke Barrett (2022-2024); Current placement: unknown
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Louis Zimmermann (2020-2022); Current placement: Consultant in Product Management &
Strategy at Deloitte Digital, New York, NY.
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Benjamin (Ben) Harner (2020-2022); Current placement: Physician Assistant Student at Mercer
University, Atlanta, GA.
Anderson Huynh (2020-2021); Current placement: unknown
Victoria Fonzi M.D. (2017-2019); Current placement: Cahaba-UAB Family Medicine Residency –
Urban, Birmingham, AL.
Hari Lakshmanan M.D. (2017-2018); Current placement: Radiology Fellowship at the University
of Florida, Gainsville, FL
Stephanie (Petros) Bauguss P.A. (2016-2017); Current placement: Georgia Dermatology Partners,
Snellville, GA
Ellie (Jester) Jenkins A.P.C., M.S. (2015-2016); Current placement: Psychotherapist at Southern Live
Oak Wellness, Evans, GA
Lina Tibavinsky M.D. (2012-2015); Current placement: Haven Ob/Gyn, Atlanta, GA.
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Hutton Brandon M.D. (2013); Current placement: Infectious Disease Specialist at University of
Utah Health
Aubrey Place (2012-2013); Current placement: Beaufort Memorial Surgical Specialists, Beaufort, SC
Jeffrey Tran M.D. (2010-2012); Biology thesis mentor; Current placement: Ophthalmologist at
Stratus Eye; Roswell, GA
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Jacob Parnell, M.D. (2009-2010); Current placement: Geriatric Specialist for Tristar Medical
Group, Nashville, TN
Jennifer Werner (2009); Current placement: unknown
L. Megan Wood (nee Beers), Ph.D. (2008-2010); Current placement: Assistant Professor,
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN.
Abimbola Ademola-Dada, Pharm.D. (2008); Current placement: Project Delivery Manager, Digital
Health & Software Consultant, T.A.E. Consulting Services, LLC, Atlanta, GA
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