People

Raised in São Paulo, Brazil, Luiz studied pharmacy and biochemistry at the University of São Paulo where he became a pharmacist and a biochemist. After 6 years working in the industry, Luiz embarked to California to get his Ph.D. at University of California, Irvine. From one coast to another, Luiz went to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for his postdoctoral studies. Finally, in August 2024, Luiz joined the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL.  

Sade is a first-year Ph.D. student in the Microbiology and Cell Science department at UF. Before UF, she started her research interest at Fort Valley State University, studying strawberry tissue culture to extend the shelf life of strawberries. After she graduated, she decided she loved research and continuously learning about the “unknown”. She joined a nematode lab at Kennesaw State University studying ngn-1 (human neurogenin 1) and its effects with ceh-27 (human NKX2.1) during embryogenesis. Upon graduating, she hopes to continue microbial discovery-type research in either government or academia.

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Lana is a fourth-year biochemistry major at UF, pursuing minors in pathogenesis and bioinformatics. After graduation, she intends to pursue a Ph.D. and further develop her skillsets in bioinformatics and structural biology. She ultimately hopes to contribute to pharmacological research and become a professor one day and is particularly interested in fighting the growing global problem of antibiotic resistance. 

Kiana is a fourth-year Microbiology and Cell Sciences major at the University of Florida, double minoring in Bioinformatics and Nutritional Sciences. In the Passalacqua Lab, she focuses on discovering and characterizing RNA thermometers. By studying these regulatory mechanisms, she aims to better understand how nucleic acid structures control biological events, a foundation she hopes to apply to future research.

Jana is a third-year studying Microbiology and Cell Sciences at the University of Florida. 

With a double minor in Public Health and Bioinformatics, she is most passionate about 

exploring the intersection between scientific research and public health advocacy. Her 

academic and research experiences have strengthened her interest in infectious diseases 

and their role in global health challenges. Following graduation, Jana plans to pursue a 

Ph.D., expanding her knowledge and skills to contribute to research in disease prevention 

and public health.

Raised in Bogota - Colombia, Paula completed an AS in biotechnology and laboratory sciences- BACE in Tampa Fl, where she developed her passion for genetic disease research. Currently, she is a third-year Microbiology and Cell Sciences student at the University of Florida, with a minor in Pathogenesis. Following graduation Paula wants to contribute her knowledge and experience in biotechnology and genetics-based research that will allow the development of new solutions to diseases.

Katherine is a second-year biochemistry student at the University of Florida. A Gainesville native, she plans to pursue a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology.

Sydney is currently studying microbiology and cell science at the University of Florida. She desires to pursue a career in the biotechnology industry. Outisde of science, she enjoys going to church and being outdoors with friends and family.