LAB MEMBERS
ANGELA MITCHELL, PH.D.
Principle Investigator
Angela Mitchell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University. She is interested in the interactions between bacterial stress responses and antimicrobial resistance. Angela received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013 and did her postdoctoral work at Princeton University.
KAITLIN CASANOVA HAMPTON, PH.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
Kaitlin is interested in characterizing the formation of enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) as the head group of a phospholipid in E. coli. She received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Dallas and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University. Prior to joining the Mitchell Lab, she has led research projects exploring the use of Pseudomonas aeruginosa for bioremediation of jet fuel spills, evaluating the efficiency of novel zinc oxide nanoparticles as antimicrobials, and investigating the intersection of copper and iron homeostasis in Uropathogenic E. coli.
JOSEPH CARR
Graduate Student
Joseph F. Carr is a Ph.D. candidate in the Microbiology Ph.D. program in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University. He is interested in uncovering the roles of wzzE and yhdP on cyclic enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) biosynthesis and antibiotic resistance. He received his undergraduate degree at Clemson University. Before entering the Microbiology Program at TAMU and joining the Mitchell Lab, his research interest included a broad sway of topics from Biogeochemistry which he studied soil chemistry and bacterial relations; to Mammology in which he studied speciation and habitat range of Red Squirrels
DAVID BAUTISTA
Graduate Student
David Bautista is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University. His research interest is understanding the relationship between DNA repair and antibiotic resistance. Before arriving at Texas A&M, David received his bachelors degree in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University – Kingsville, and was a Post Baccalaureate Scholar at Brown University.
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HALEY BENNETT
Graduate Student
Haley Bennett is a Ph.D. candidate in the Biology Department at Texas A&M University. Her research in the Mitchell Lab focuses on uncovering the regulation of the biosynthesis of a carbohydrate-derived moiety highly conserved in Enterobacterales, known as Enterobacterial Common Antigen (ECA). She is also examining the environmental conditions important for regulating ECA’s biosynthesis, and ECA’s potential role in acid stress responses. Before arriving at TAMU and joining the Mitchell Lab, Haley received her master’s degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida.
JENNIFERÂ RUDOLF
Graduate Student
Jenny Rudolf is a Ph.D. student in the Microbiology program at Texas A&M University. In the Mitchell lab, she is particularly interested in wzyE, the enterobacterial common antigen (ECA) polymerase, and its essentiality in Enterobacterales. Before starting her Ph.D., Jenny attended Texas A&M, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Biology alongside a Mathematics minor.
SHIVANI BHUT
Graduate Student
Hello! My name is Shivani Bhut and I am a Microbiology Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University Biology Department. I previously completed my undergraduate at Brandeis University, obtaining my Bachelors of Science in biology and neuroscience. I worked in an undergraduate lab that investigates the mechanisms of viral cell entry, specifically for influenza. I fell in love with microbes during my research and am excited to transition to studying the mechanisms of OM permeability of gram-negative bacteria. Outside of the lab, I enjoy reading science fiction and fantasy books and enjoying the outdoors!
ROBERT WEI
Undergraduate Student
Howdy! My name is Robert Wei, and I am an undergraduate finance major with a minor in biology. I am a part of AMSA,
a student pre-med organization, and a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. I plan on going to medical school to
become a physician. I am looking forward to gaining more experience in the field of research and hope to start my own
research.
HANNAH FUHRMAN
Undergraduate Student
Howdy! My name is Hannah Fuhrman, and I am a Neuroscience major on the molecular and cellular track. I am additionally participating in the departmental honors program for biology. I am a member of RUF and their worship team, as well as Phi Eta Sigma and a couple of other organizations. I hope to go to medical school to specialize in pediatrics either in cardiology or neurology. I would like to pursue research in medical school alongside my studies.
CASSIDY WHITEHEAD
Undergraduate Student
Howdy! My name is Cassidy Whitehead and I am a junior Molecular and Cell Biology major. Outside of classes, I am a member of a student service organization called Aggieland Growing Through Selfless Service. I hope to pursue a career in research, so I am excited for the opportunity to gain some experience during my undergraduate studies!
DANIEL WARZECHA
Undergraduate Student
Howdy! My name is Daniel Warzecha, and I am a junior Microbiology major with a minor in English. My previous research was focused on genetics and sex determination in Drosophila Melanogaster. After graduation, I hope to attend medical school and pursue a career in the medical field.
ELIZABETH PONDER
Undergraduate Student
Hey! My name is Elizabeth Ponder, and I am a sophomore student working on my Biology B.S. degree with a minor in Psychology. I am a member of Aggie Blossoms, Pre-Med Society, and Pre-Med Society Philanthropy Committee. In the future, I hope to attend medical school to become a physician and conduct pathological research of my own.
LAB ALUMNI
Postdoctoral Research Associate, 2019-2023
ASHLEY VARGO
Undergraduate (Molecular and Cell Biology), Texas A&M University Class of 2023
RADWA EMAM
Undergraduate (Biomedical Sciences), Texas A&M University Class of 2024
IRIS YANG
Undergraduate (Biology), Texas A&M University Class of 2023
KINSEY MORRIS
Undergraduate (Biology) and Research Assistant, Texas A&M University Class of 2021
NICHOLAS LUGO
Undergraduate (Biochemistry), Texas A&M University Class of 2021