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Heather Feaga
[email protected] I earned my PhD in 2016 from Penn State University, working under the mentorship of Ken Keiler. I discovered that rescue of ribosomes from mRNAs lacking a stop codon is essential in bacteria. Since mitochondria evolved from a bacteria-like progenitor, I then extended these findings to mitochondrial ribosomes in human cells, and found that mitoribosomes are rescued from nonstop messages by a similar mechanism. During my postdoctoral work with Jonathan Dworkin at Columbia University I worked on ribosome dimerization, and determined how dimerization protects the ribosome from degradation during starvation. I have worked with many different organisms including Bacillus subtilis, Caulobacter crescentus, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. I am fascinated by how diverse bacterial species manage the problem of ribosome quality control in order to face the unique challenges of their lifestyle. Mentorship and scientific communication are also important to me. I grew up on a dairy farm, attended community college, and worked various jobs to get through school. During my postdoc, I taught nights/weekends at BMCC (an HSI/MSI community college) in NYC. I plan to integrate these values into my research program by developing a lab culture that is inclusive and promotes diversity in STEM. |
Graduate Students
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Katrina Callan
[email protected] I earned my BS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences at SUNY Stony Brook in 2014. I then obtained my board certification as a licensed medical technologist where I worked in a clinical microbiology lab in NYC through the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, I investigate ribosome rescue pathways in Bacillus subtilis and am broadly interested in bacterial physiology as it relates to stresses during translation and sporulation. Outside of the lab you can find me walking my rescue pups or perusing through the aisles of stores that start with “T” in Ithaca. |
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Kevin England
[email protected] I earned my BS in Microbiology and Conservation Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I did undergraduate research with Dr. Silvia Cavagnero studying protein folding and dynamics. I'm interested in bacterial alarmones, the stringent response, and all-things central dogma genetics. Outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, paddling, and exploring the Finger Lakes. |
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Cassidy Prince
[email protected] I earned my BS in Microbiology from Penn State University, where I researched the virulence of diarrheal Bacillus cereus strains under Dr. Jasna Kovac. Currently, I apply in silico and in vivo methods to study bacterial programmed ribosomal frameshifting. I'm broadly interested in functional and comparative genomics, evolution, and gene expression. When I'm not in the lab, I enjoy playing and watching sports (We Are!), music, crafting, and eating yummy food with friends. |
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Daniel Tetreault
[email protected] I earned my BA in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and Chinese Literature from Middlebury College, where I completed my thesis research with Bob Cluss on a metabolic enzyme that moonlights as a virulence factor in the causative agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi. Afterward, I completed a postbaccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institutes of Health with Philip Adams and Gisela Storz, during which I characterized small regulatory RNAs in B. burgdorferi that are important for mammalian infection. My current research applies my training in RNA biology, enzymology, and gene regulation to study novel ribosome-binding translation factors. Outside of the lab, I enjoy painting portraits, studying languages, and reading medieval manuscripts. |
Lab Staff
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Isabella Lin
I earned my BS in Biological Sciences with a concentration in Biochemistry and a minor in Microbial Sciences and Infectious Disease Biology. I am currently a lab technician researching the sporulation of diverse Paenibacillus species. I am broadly interested in bacterial physiology, comparative genomics, and antimicrobial resistance. In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, playing in the drumline of the Big Red Pep and Marching Bands, and baking! |
Undergraduate Students
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Michael Kepko
I am a rising senior studying Biological Sciences and Sociology at Cornell University. In the lab, I induce ribosome collisions in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis to investigate and characterize the resulting stress responses. I employ genetic manipulation techniques, such as overexpressing stalling motifs and deleting ribosome rescue factors, to study the physiological effects and molecular mechanisms behind these stress responses. I am passionate about microbiology and molecular biology, and I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology, focusing on genetic engineering. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cycling, hiking, playing electric guitar, and traveling. |
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Letian (Dennis) Wu
I’m a rising senior studying Biological Engineering with a minor in Business for Life Science. Currently, I'm exploring the functions of several translation factors in Bacillus subtilis, and specifically how they help with complex nascent peptides like polyproline sequences. I’m really interested in ribosomes and molecular biology in general, and I plan to study molecular or synthetic biology in graduate school. Beyond the lab, I enjoy playing soccer, skiing, stock trading, and eating tasty foods, which keep me energized and inspired! |
Alumni
- Hye-Rim Hong (PhD)
- Joel Gonzalez (REU)
- Tarah Gervais (REU)
- Bintou Sow (Undergraduate)
- Jerome Dovan (Undergraduate)
- Katherine Meluni (Undergraduate)