People

Laurie Spencer

Laurie earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from De Paul University, and a master’s in Biological Anthropology at Northern Illinois University. Her master’s thesis involved investigating the prevalence of intestinal parasites in lemurs, humans, domestic animals and invasive rats in Madagascar. She has previous work experience as a zookeeper and animal behavior research intern in the primate house at Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago. She also worked in the private sector for several years at a medical device/pharmaceutical company. She is passionate about One Health research and is excited to currently be a Ph.D. student in the biology department at NIU researching the gut microbiome and enteric pathogens in American bison (Bison bison).

Adam Nuccio

After graduating from college Adam spent several years working as a consultant in the private sector while keeping up with the latest research pertaining to animal microbiomes and behavioral neuroscience. He holds degrees in both psychology and biology. His previous research has entailed assessing how seemingly superficial details can influence how people interpret scientific information and characterizing microbial genomes through an assortment of bioinformatics tools. At present, as a Ph.D. candidate in the biology department at NIU, Adam is working with both the Singh and Grippo labs as part of a collaboration that seeks to gain insight into the effects of social isolation on the microbiome-gut-brain access of prairie voles.

Gary van Breda

Gary van Breda is a Ph.D. student in the Biological Science department at NIU. His interest is in the prevention of food borne pathogen illnesses. Gary’s academic background includes a BS in Biochemistry and Microbiology (University of Cape Town) and a BS and MS in Food Science (Kansas State University). He is the Director, Global Food Safety (Foods and Packaging) at McDonald’s Corporation. In his current role, he works closely with regulators, academia and the food industry to ensure that McDonald’s food safety programs are reputable, valid and science-based. Prior to McDonald’s he had leadership roles in Quality and Food Safety Management Systems for major food manufacturing companies such as Tate & Lyle, Cargill and the Coca Cola bottling system.

Ritesh Ray

Ritesh is pursuing his Ph.D. in Department of Biological Sciences. He is from Rourkela,  town in state of Odisha, India.  After graduating with Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Dakota, he moved to NIU. He is interested  in studying the gut microbiome and how interactions happen between different species of bacteria in this environment.

Jeanine Seitz

Jeanine is currently pursuing Ph.D. in Biological Sciences. She earned her B.S. in Biology (minor degree in Psychology) and Master's in Biology (focus on Molecular Phylogenetics) from Loyola University Chicago. She also worked in the healthcare field, providing patient care for approximately twenty years. Jeanine also currently teaches at a northern Illinois college. Her interest in Biofilms includes understanding the genes and cell signaling associated with construction of biofilms, the factors affecting changes in populations of bacteria comprising the gut microbiome - both commensals and pathogens and, the overall contribution of the gut microbiome to health at the organismal level. She is investigating various aspects of Campylobacter presence in wild Bison.

Barsha Bhattarai

Barsha completed her bachelors in B.Tech Biotechnology from Nepal and Master's in Applied and Commercial Biotechnology from Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. Her Master's thesis focused on the Genome-wide study of EIEC and Shigella with the implementation of a series of Bioinformatics tools. For her Ph.D. work, she is interested in working on the detection and analysis of AMR in water and soil samples.

Aleena Kallan

Aleena Kallan is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. On the pre-med track, she intends to advance to medical school post-graduation with a specialty in Orthopedics. She is a member of the chemistry club and Asian American Resource Center at NIU, and interns at Conventions Psychiatry and Counseling. Her current work in the lab consists of finding bacteria, specifically Clostridium Perfringens in bison, to promote food safety. She explains how the lab exposes her to the world of microbiology and food borne illnesses which will help keep others in our community safe.

Whitney Vanman

Whitney is from Rockford, Illinois, and a Rockford Promise recipient. She is majoring in Biology, with a minor in Chemistry and is selected for the BELONG in STEM (NSF funded program) at NIU. After graduating, she would like to continue her education by specializing in Medical Microbiology or Immunology, in order to conduct research on the development and treatment of autoimmune diseases, as they are becoming more prevalent in the United States. She is interested in gaining lab experience to learn more about Microbiology through real-life applications and to make sure research is the right path for her. When not at school, she works part-time and enjoy reading.

Adam Baldocchi

Adam Baldocchi is a dedicated biological sciences post-baccalaureate student. With a steadfast aspiration to pursue medical school upon completion of his studies, Adam's academic journey is fueled by a passion for healthcare and a commitment to making a meaningful impact in the medical field. He completed his bachelors degree in psychology, is currently working for a large healthcare system, and is an ardent advocate for mental health. His current work in the lab consists of finding bacteria, specifically Salmonella in bison, to help promote food safety. Additionally, he works with bacillus utilizing bioinformatics tools. He has a passion for the intersection between genomics and bioinformatics.

Kylie Bresley

Kylie Bresley is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry. Post-graduation, she plans on advancing to medical school and specializing in Anesthesiology. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa and volunteers at her local animal shelter. Her current research work in the lab involves determining prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the environment and performing molecular confirmations. She is eager to learn new skills and incorporate them into her future endeavors. When not focused on school, she works part-time and spends time with her three pets.

Vrinda Brahmbhatt

Vrinda Brahmbhatt is an NIU Honors student currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences with minors in Psychology and Chemistry. As an aspiring Physician Assistant, she has a deep passion for biology and is seeking a challenging and rewarding position to contribute her knowledge and skills in a healthcare setting. She serves as the Secretary of the Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Professional Association at NIU and is also a member of the Asian American Resource Center, Chemistry Club, and Biological Sciences Undergraduate Student Association at NIU.

Lab Alumni

• Edward Allen, B.S. 2019
• Kyi Zay Min, B.S. 2019
• Bhumi Shah, B.S. 2019
• Alex Hover, B.S. 2020
• Tina Sison, B.S. 2021
• Chloe` Harvey, B.S. 2022
• Paula Luengo Carretero, B.S. 2022
• Halee Tyszka, B.S. 2023
• Samantha Mallinder, B.S. 2023
• Yousuf Khan, B.S. 2023
• Liliana Banuelos, B.S. 2023
• Mark Figueroa, B.S. 2024