The Team

Adit Alreja

Having obtained his Ph.D. in the Nelson Group at the Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research (IBBR), his work has focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms of endolysins. His research has led to the discovery and characterization of a novel endolysin targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae displaying biofilm eradication ability, a patent for which is being filed by the University of Maryland. He is currently serving as a Post-Doc and eventually hopes to seek scientist positions in the Biotechnology/Pharmaceutical industry. 

Full-time Research Assistant/Lab Manager

Isha Vashee

Isha is a recent graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park. Isha has experience in developing an endolysin to attack Gardnerella, the bacterium that causes Bacterial Vaginosis, as well as researched the effect of severe COVID-19 infection on the hamster lung and heart proteome. She is currently taking a gap year while applying to both MD and MD-PhD programs, with the hopes of becoming a future physician-scientist.   

Part-time Research Assistant

Maeve Engelbride

Maeve is a recent graduate from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BS in Biological Sciences. Throughout her undergraduate experience at the University of Maryland, she did research on Pseudomonas aeruginosa's ability to form biofilms on the inner lumen of catheters in chronic Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections under the guidance of Dr Cherisse Hall. Maeve is currently applying to PhD programs along the east coast with the hopes of becoming a professor in a life sciences program.