People

Dr. Elaine Luo

Principle Investigator

I am a marine microbial ecologist with training from University of Toronto, University of Hawai'i, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Microbial engines drive biogeochemical cycles that influence habitability of life on Earth, yet ocean microbes, and in particular viruses, remain the most abundant yet understudied life-forms on our planet. My lab uses innovative molecular and computational approaches to study the novel diversity and function of under-studied environmental microbes.

Dr. Ngoc Dung Pham

Postdoctoral Scholar

I have a passion for understanding the impact of emerging pollutants on the diversity and dynamics of microbial communities, and the subsequent effects on environmental and human health. During my PhD at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), I studied the diversity and dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes in response to critical environmental contaminants. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Luo lab, I am excited to expand my expertise in next-generation sequencing, stable isotope probing, and bioinformatics, to leverage these cutting-edge tools to unravel the critical roles of microorganisms in environmental and human health.

Md Moinuddin (Moin) Sheam

PhD student

Viruses play crucial roles in biogeochemical cycles, microbial evolution, and microbial population dynamics within the marine environment. I am interested in studying the diversity and biogeochemical impacts of viruses in the ocean. I completed a BSc in Biotechnology from Islamic University, Bangladesh, and a MSc in Marine Biology from Ghent University, Belgium. I am enthusiastic about exploring the unexplored viromes of the marine environment and investigating their biogeochemical impacts.

Paulo Freire

PhD student

BSc from São Paulo State University (UNESP). Currently, a Ph.D. student in the Luo lab, focusing on studying microbial communities inhabiting hydrothermal vents and their multidisciplinary interconnections with astrobiology.

Nathaniel Jobe

PhD student

Viruses are abundant across environments, but remain understudied despite their importance in biogeochemical cycling and microbial population dynamics.  I completed a BS in Biology and a MS in Biology at New Mexico Tech, where I studied viruses in deep groundwater and ancient brines. I plan to continue exploring viromes of extreme environments, such as hypersaline bodies of water, and the roles viruses play in changes in microbial populations and functions. 

Dr. Brayan Y. Vilanova Cuevas

Postdoctoral Scholar

I am a microbial ecologist interested in how microbes shape disease dynamics and health in marine ecosystems. I earned my B.S. in Microbiology from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico and my Ph.D. in Microbiology from Cornell University, where I studied the disease ecology and dynamics of sea urchin mass mortalities caused by a ciliate pathogen. My postdoctoral research focuses on comparing the microbiomes of coral-eating snails from the Pacific and Atlantic to better understand their roles in coral predation and reef health. I also study Thaumarchaeota and their viruses to explore how these interactions influence marine microbial communities.

Dr. Stephania Tsola

Postdoctoral Scholar

I am a microbial ecologist and biogeochemist interested in how microbial interactions shape the environment and biogeochemical cycles. My work has ranged from studying microbial contributions to methane cycling (Queen Mary University of London), to investigating eukaryotic endosymbiosis (University College London), to exploring how phytoplankton influence biofilms in the Arctic (Natural History Museum, London) and eutrophic lakes in Greece. As a postdoctoral researcher in the Luo lab, I aim to build on this multidisciplinary background to understand how viruses might influence environmental change, with a particular focus on their roles in the methane cycle.

Khadija Ouedraogo

Honor's BSc student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biology with a minor in Public Health. I am interested in exploring the connections between microbial life, environmental processes, and human health. I joined Dr. Luo's lab to investigate these relationships and prepare for a healthcare career that connects scientific research with community-centered impact.

Matthew Edwards

BSc student

I am an undergraduate student majoring in biology and computer science. I am interested mainly in astrobiology, extreme marine biology, and viral research. Many topics within these fields have been under-researched but could help us learn more about the perseverance and adaptability of life, providing new findings and ideas that could make a difference in peoples' lives.

Courtney-Grace Neizer (2024 - 2025)

Honors BA Student

Honor's thesis: "Predicting KEGG orthologs associated with microbial metabolism in autotrophic freshwater microbes using a statistical model"

I am an undergraduate student studying computer science with a concentration in bioinformatics. I joined the Luo lab to apply what I’ve learned in my courses to real scientific challenges. I'm eager to delve into statistical analysis to learn how to apply machine learning models to these problems.

Heven Siyum (2024 - 2025)

Honors BSc Student

Honor's thesis: "Temporal variability of viruses during a freshwater harmful algal bloom"

As an aspiring biotechnologist, I'm particularly interested in the use of microorganisms for environmental sustainability. I am ecstatic to be a part of Dr. Luo's lab to study marine microbes and their impacts on their environment and biogeochemical cycles. 

Ruthie Freedman (2023 - 2024)

Honors BSc Student

Honor's thesis: "Quantification of aquatic viruses in marine hydrothermal vent ecosystems"

I joined the Luo Lab because of my interest in marine biology and previous research experience with microbiology. 

Dr. TJ Rogers (2023 - 2024)

Postdoctoral Scholar

My research interests lie at the intersection of biogeochemistry, geomicrobiology, and bioinformatics. Understanding how extreme environments, and the interactions between the organisms within, shape the community structure can better inform us as to what was possible in earth’s early years as well as what is possible on other planetary bodies with similar conditions. During my PhD at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, I studied biogeochemical processes within the hot springs across and along terrestrial convergent margins.