Program Manager
Sara Kelly
smkelly@uw.edu
Lab Managers
James Fuller – Lab Manager & Research Scientist IV
Megan Fredericks (she/her) – Lab Manager & Research Scientist III
Education: BS Microbiology, University of Washington, 2021
Research interests: nonhuman primate models of emerging disease, HIV cure strategies, HIV co-infections, social determinants of health, implementation science
Interests outside of lab: bouldering, reading, cats, yoga
Assistant Professors
Megan O’Connor, PhD (she/her) – Research Assistant Professor
Education: B.A. in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, CA
Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Research Interests: Evaluation of immune responses during Zika virus infection; Understanding how HIV-ZIKV co-infection alters ZIKV pathogenesis; Determining the role of mucosal T-cell subsets and the impact on HIV disease progression and/or therapeutic intervention strategies.
Interests outside of lab: Running, cooking, playing games, hiking, and spending time with my family.
Research Scientists
Jesse Erasmus, PhD – Director of Virology, HDT Bio
Education: BS in Biology at Utah Valley University
PhD in Virology at the University of Texas Medical Branch
Sandra Dross, PhD (she/her) – Research Scientist, Senior; VIC Manager
Education: B.S. in Biotechnology, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
Ph.D. in Pathobiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Research Interests: Determining the immunogenicity and efficacy of prophylactic and therapeutic/curative HIV DNA vaccines in NHP models and understanding host innate immune factors that influence disease pathogenesis and vaccination efficacy.
Interests outside of lab: Biking all over this great city, gardening, hanging out with my family, reading.
Mara Maughan (she/they) – Research Scientist I
Education: BS Microbiology, BS Biochemistry, University of Washington, 2022
Work in the lab: Immunoassays, characterization of nucleic acid vaccine immunogenicity in mouse model, SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza in vivo challenge trials.
Interests outside of lab: Hiking/trail running, mountain biking, exploring Seattle, watching horror movies, and learning new things.
Oliver Mauer (he/they) – Research Scientist I
Education: BS Biochemistry, University of Washington, 2024
Research interests: Oncology, epidemiology, virology, vaccinology
Interests outside of lab: rock climbing, weightlifting, hiking, Stardew Valley, crocheting, viola, piano.
Sanford Leake IV (he/him) – Research Scientist I
Education: B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Washington, Seattle
Research Interests: Cellular signaling pathways and physiological remodeling, transcriptional regulation and adaptation, viral entry pathways, viral-host interaction dynamics and evolution
Interests outside of lab: Tea, hiking, reading, video games, and gardening.
Taylor Moore – Research Scientist I
Education: BS Biochemistry, Washington State University.
Research interest: Research on BSL-2 and -3 viruses with an emphasis in SARS-CoV-2, cancer vaccines, and Hepatitis B
Interests outside the lab: reading, binge watching movies and tv shows, listening to music, and exercising.
Graduate Students
Serena del Banco (she/her) – PhD Student, Molecular and Cellular Biology