Catherine earned her B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She began her microbiology and immunology training during her Master’s at the University of Michigan in Dr. Michael Bachman’s lab, mentored by Dr. Caitlyn Holmes. Her research focused on identifying Klebsiella pneumoniae factors that enhance bacteremia by conferring resistance to oxidative, nitrosative, and macrophage-mediated stress. Catherine is continuing her graduate studies in the MICaB program at the University of Minnesota. She values scientific curiosity, collaboration, and communication to bridge research with public understanding.

Likes: singing, reading, horseback riding, and hiking.

Aiden is an undergraduate student majoring in microbiology at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. He joined the Holmes Lab in Fall 2025, where he works under the mentorship of Dr. Caitlyn Holmes and Alexis Wilcox. He is interested in microbiology, immune responses to bacterial pathogens, public health, and effective scientific communication