People

Principal Investigator

Nathan Sherer, Ph.D.

Professor of Molecular Virology and Oncology
Virology Program Member, UW Carbone Cancer Center
BA, 1997, Biology, Grinnell College
PhD, 2006, Microbiology, Yale University
Post-doc, King’s College London
"Viruses. Cells. Dad jokes."

Senior 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

Graduate Students

Jorge Guerrero

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (MCP)
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."

Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Training Program

Sydney Lesko

Cellular and Molecular Biology (CMB)
"Outside of lab you'll either find me cuddled up at home with my cat Oliver, or looking for new local restaurants to try. I love biking the Monona lake loop or paddle boarding!"
slesko@wisc.edu

Cellular and Molecular Biology Program

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, Research Intern, 2020-2022

Currently a graduate student in the Microbiology Doctoral Training Program (MDTP) at UW-Madison.

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

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

Soyeong Park, Ph.D., Post-doctoral researcher, 2017-2022

Senior Scientist at Angiex (Cambridge, MA)

Rachel Knoener, Ph.D., Post-doctoral 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

Postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Julie Huber's lab at Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institute studying deep sea RNA viruses; 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.

Ryan Behrens, Ph.D., Graduate Student, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Graduate Program, 2012-2018, Post-doc, 2018-2021

Postdoctoral researcher in Dr. David Evans's lab at UW-Madison studying anti-HIV immunology using primate models.

Additional Alumni

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

Postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Rueben Harris and Dr. Ryan Langlois's labs at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities studying intrinsic and innate antiviral immunity; NIH Kirschstein Fellow.

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

Postdoctoral researcher in Dr. Edna Cukierman at the Fox Chase Cancer Center studying pancreatic cancer; ACS Fellow, Black-in-Cancer Fellow, HHMI Leading Edge Fellow, AAAS If/Then Ambassador.