Current Team

Katharina Ribbeck
Principal Investigator
Kerry Forristall
Administrative Assistant
Brad Turner
Research Scientist

My primary interests are in mucin glycoprotein biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology and their involvement in diseased and applications to therapeutics.

Sara Smith
Research Specialist, Lab Manager

My work in the lab focuses primarily on mucin separations and purifications.

Kelsey Wheeler
Research Scientist

The goal of my research is to understand how mucin glycans limit the virulence of pathogens and support beneficial microbes within diverse mucosal environments. Leveraging these insights into mucin-microbe interactions, I aim to develop mucin-inspired therapies for the targeted delivery of bioactive glycans.

Gerardo Cárcamo-Oyarce
Postdoctoral Researcher
I am interested in understanding how mucus influences bacterial behavior of pathogenic bacteria. I am particularly focused on studying bacterial interactions such as cell-to-cell communication and bacterial competition in mucus environment.
Liubov Yakovlieva
Postdoctoral Researcher

My research focus is on unraveling the mechanisms by which mucus supports commensal bacteria. Specifically, I aim to uncover mucin epitopes that promote the retention and survival of beneficial species. With this, I hope to create synergistic formulations that combat dysbiotic states for improved health.

Joseph Romeo
Postdoctoral Researcher

I am interested in exploring the influence of mucin glycan structure, presentation, and diversity on the management of environmental toxins and pathogens. Specifically, I am working to streamline the chemical synthesis of mucin glycan derivatives and glycopolymer displays with which to probe these effects.

Jade Bath
PhD Student
I am interested in developing methods to identify surface interactions between microbes and mucin glycans that mediate observed changes in virulence.
Jeff Hsiao
PhD student
NSF GRFP Fellow

My research is focused on how mucins tune immune activity in various mucosal environments. Specifically, I aim to study the mechanisms underlying the changes in immune cell functional states induced by mucin glycans.

Mei Yi You
PhD student

I am interested in how mucins and mucin glycans interact with and influence epithelial cells in various parts of the body. This includes how mucins and host glycans are involved in regulating and preventing pathogenic infections and diseases.

Daniel Sellers
PhD student

I am interested in the bidirectional interactions between mucins and microbial communities within the gut, and ultimately how those interactions contribute to healthy or diseased states.

Deniz Uzun
Laboratory Technician

I am interested in understanding how mucins influence various factors of microbial virulence, with a specific emphasis on the role of these interactions in promoting healthy states. 

Chris Viets
Undergraduate Researcher

Collaborations

Corey Stevens
Postdoctoral Researcher
(Prof. Angela Belcher, MIT)

I am interested in understanding bacteriophage transport and killing in mucus. Specifically, my goal is to understand how mucus affects the ability of phages to prey on bacteria.

George Degen
Postdoctoral Researcher
(Prof. Gareth McKinley FRS, MIT)

My research focuses on understanding the properties and applications of mucin-based biomaterials

Lab Group Photos