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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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Morgan Serbagi
[email protected] I earned my BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences from CUNY Hunter College and my AS in Biotechnology from CUNY BMCC. As an undergraduate, I did research in the Euler lab at Hunter and the Fischetti lab at The Rockefeller University where I worked with bacteriophage endolysins as selective antimicrobials and diagnostic tools for several Gram-positive pathogens. At Cornell, I am interested in ribosome collision in Bacillus subtilis. Outside of lab, I enjoy hiking with my dog Sophie and learning how to cook and bake new recipes! |
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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. |
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Ziyu Xue
[email protected] I earned my BS in Human Biology, Health, and Society at Cornell, where I studied in Dr. Tobias Doerr's lab the link between beta-lactam tolerance and antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae. My current research involves studying the mechanisms bacteria employ to resolve ribosome stalling. Outside of the lab, I love dancing and choreographing, and I've recently started learning piano. |
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Isabella Lin (Visiting)
I earned my BS in Biology with a concentration in biochemistry at Cornell. I am currently a PhD student in Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program at Harvard Medical School. In the Feaga Lab, I am 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, crochet, playing Stardew Valley, and baking! |
Undergraduate Students
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Amena Shamia
I'm studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Molecular and Cellular Biology and minoring in Mathematics. My research focuses on translation control and ribosome behavior in Bacillus subtilis. Specifically, I investigate how proteins like yocB influence ribosomal hibernation during stress conditions. To study this, I am developing a genetic toolkit to tag and track key proteins involved in ribosome stalling and rescue. This work aims to uncover how bacteria regulate translation during dormancy and development. I’m fascinated by microbial life and host-pathogen interactions, and I plan to pursue a Ph.D. in infectious diseases and immunology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy exploring cafes, going on nature walks, reading religious texts, and binge-watching shows. |
Alumni
- Harry Lian (Undergraduate)
- Isabella Lin (Undergraduate and Lab Tech)
- Michael Kepko (Undergraduate)
- Letian (Dennis) Wu (Undergraduate)
- Hye-Rim Hong (PhD)
- Joel Gonzalez (REU)
- Tarah Gervais (REU)
- Bintou Sow (Undergraduate)
- Jerome Dovan (Undergraduate)
- Katherine Meluni (Undergraduate)