People

Principal Investigator

Nathan Sherer, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular Virology and Oncology
Director, Institute for Molecular Virology
BA, 1997, Biology, Grinnell College
PhD, 2006, Microbiology, Yale University
Postdoc, King’s College London
"Viruses. Cells. Dad jokes."

Scientists

James Bruce, Ph.D.

"I'm the father of four children, so when I'm not working in lab I'm busy with their activities. In my free time I enjoy hikes with my dog, playing golf, and watching sports."
jamesbruce@wisc.edu

Ryan Behrens, Ph.D.

rtbehrens2@wisc.edu

Postdoctoral Researchers

Jorge Guerrero, Ph.D.

jfguerrero2@wisc.edu
"I enjoy going hiking with my golden retriever Leo and going out to eat at new places. I also have saltwater fish tanks at home that I take care of as a hobby."

Graduate Students

Maddi Bandini

Cancer Biology Program
"I have two adorable animals, an Australian Shepard named Zeus and a cat named Autumn. My favorite places to eat in Madison are The Old Fashioned, Sugar River Pizza, and Ruth Chris Steakhouse."
mbandini@wisc.edu

Cancer Biology Program

Kerry Smith

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP)
"I grew up in New Orleans, visited more European countries than US states, love to cook, play guitar, and shop for shoes. One of my life goals is to produce a song with Lady Gaga and SZA."
kasmith35@wisc.edu

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Training Program

Lauren Kelly

Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB)
"When I'm not in lab, I like to spend time with my fur baby, Nemo. I also like to play tennis, read, and bike!"
Email: lkkelly2@wisc.edu

Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

Alumni

Amelia Hansen, M.S., Research Intern, 2021-2022, Master's Student, 2022-24

Microbiology Consultant, Rainmaker Technology Corporation (El Segundo, CA).

Sydney Lesko, Ph.D., Graduate Student, 2018-2024

Postdoc in Dr. Jay Hooper's lab at USAMRIID (Frederick, MD) studying hantavirus.

Shanyqua Scott, Research Intern, 2024-2025

Graduate student at Washington University (St. Louis, MO).

Sofia Romero, Ph.D. Graduate Student, Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, 2017-2023

Postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Daniel Chertow's lab at the NIH (Bethesda, MD) studying emerging viral infections.

Soyeong Park, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, 2017-2022

Project Manager at Kiniska Pharmaceuticals (Arlington, MA).

Rachel Knoener, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Researcher, 2017-2022

Senior Research Scientist in R&D Nucleic Acid Technologies at Promega (Madison, WI).

Bayleigh Benner, Ph.D., Graduate Student, Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, 2015-2020

Assistant Professor, Johnson & Wales University, (Providence, RI); Postdoctoral research in Dr. Julie Huber's lab at Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute studying deep sea RNA viruses (Wood's Hole, MA); NSF Postdoctoral Fellow.

Edward Evans III, Ph.D., Graduate Student, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, 2013-2019

Scientist in Dr. Kevin Eliceiri's lab at UW-Madison developing advanced image analysis tools; Morgridge Fellow.

Jordan Becker, Ph.D., Graduate Student, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, 2012-2017

Scientist in Dr. Ryan Langlois's lab at the Univ. of MN (Minneapolis, MN) studying antiviral immunity; Postdoctoral research in Dr. Reuben Harris's lab at the Univ. of MN (Minneapolis, MN); NIH Kirschstein Fellow.

Jaye Gardiner, Ph.D., Graduate Student, Cancer Biology Graduate Program, 2011-2017

Assistant Professor, Tufts University (Boston, MA); Postdoctoral research in Dr. Edna Cukierman's lab at Fox Chase Cancer Center studying pancreatic cancer; ACS Fellow, Black-in-Cancer Fellow, HHMI Leading Edge Fellow, AAAS If/Then Ambassador.