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Current Lab Members

Selena Yaghoubi, M. Sc.
Selena is a Ph.D. candidate in the lab. She started in the lab in the Fall of 2019 and passed her general exam, and became a Ph.D. Candidate in Spring 2022. Selena received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida Gainesville. She received her Master’s in Microbiology in Spring of 2022.
Specialized Training, Awards, and Funding while in the Karr Lab:
- 2023 ASM Future Leaders Mentoring Fellowship, ASM Microbe, June 2023
- 2023 Hollingsworth Family Endowed Scholarship, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
- 2022 Louis Pfeister Scholarship, OU
- 2021 Provost’s Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Fall Semester, OU
Arabella Martin
Arabella is a sophomore microbiology major. She started in the lab in the Fall of 2022. She plans to complete her Honors Research after a few semesters of getting used to the lab.


Former Lab Members
David Dinh, M.Sc., Ph.D.
David defended his Ph.D. on November 29, 2022. He started in the lab in the Fall of 2016. David has an M.Sc. in Biology from Cal State Fullerton.
Specialized Training, awards, and funding while in the Karr Lab:
- 2021-2022 Robert E. and Mary B. Sturgis Award
- 2020-2021 David C. Steed (Dodge Family College of Arts & Sciences) Scholarship
- 2020/2021 RapiData at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory “Data Collection & Structure Solving: A Practical Course in Macromolecular X-Ray Diffraction Measurement”
- 2020 Robberson & Wethington Scholarship for prestigious training at another institution, OU
- 2020 Provost’s Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, OU
- 2018 Graduate Student Teaching Excellence Award, Department of Microbiology & Plant Biology, OU
- 2016 Provost’s Certificate of Distinction in Teaching, Fall Semester, OU
Rohan Moghe
An OU undergraduate in Microbiology. He participated in the FYRE research program during the Spring semester of his Freshman year (Spring 2018) and completed his honors research project in the Fall of 2019. Currently in Medical School
Vy Dinh
An OU undergraduate in Microbiology. She began working in the lab in the Summer of 2018 and completed her honors thesis in the Fall of 2019.
Zane Mills
An M.Sc. student in the lab in the Fall of 2019. Zane received his undergraduate degree from UCLA. Zane left the lab to start dental school at OU.
Eric Moore
An OU undergraduate student that participated in the FYRE research program during Spring 2019. Eric began his Ph.D. studies in GPIBS program at OU HSC in Fall 2022.

Makenzie Bender
Undergraduate researcher 2017-2018. Makenzie is currently a Microbiology instructor at OU and is pursuing medical school.
Dominic Cortassa
Senior Thesis, 2017-2018. Dominic is currently working as a research technician in OKC and is in dental school.

Riya Koshy
NSF REU in Structural Biology Student, Summer 2017. Riya is currently in medical school.
Catherine Bishop-Isom, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher 2013-2017
Cat has worked in the biotech industry and academy. She is currently working as an Intro Biology lab instructor while pursuing a degree in licensed professional counseling.
Kristen Shelton, M.Sc.

Master’s Student 2014-2017.
Currently a Microbiology Lecturer at OU and in a doctoral program in ILAC with a focus in STEM education.
- Thesis title: “Exploration of the vinyl-4-reductase effector domain of the methanogen-specific transcription regulator, MsvR, in Methanosarcina acetivorans
Melissa Chanderban
Undergraduate Honors Research/Senior Thesis and LSAMP scholar. 2014-2017
Melissa received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Arkansas beginning in August 2017. She successfully defended her dissertation in Fall 2022 and is working in an industry postdoc position.
Jamarco Prim
High School Senior Shadowing in the Lab, 2016-2017. Jamarco will be attending OU in the fall.
Vy Trinh, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher, 2015-2017
Vy went on to run the Microbiology Prep Center at OU. She is currently working for Cytovance Biologics in OKC.
Kylie Gilcrest, M.Sc.

Master’s Student, 2014-2016.
Currently working in the biotech industry.
- “Substitutional analysis of cysteine residues and preliminary regulon analysis of the redox-sensing transcription regulator MsvR in Methanosarcina acetivorans”
Krutik Soni
Undergraduate Research, Summer 2016
Hannah Malone
NSF REU in Structural Biology Student, Summer 2016
Moriah Cheng
Honor’s College FYRE program student, Spring 2016
Jack Lee
Graduate Research Assistant, 2015-2016, Non-thesis Master’s. Jack is working as a sales representative for a scientific instrumentation company.

Gabriel Dunbar
NSF REU in Structural Biology Student, Summer 2015
Megan Folkerts, M.Sc.
Research Scientist, February 2013-Sept 2014
Currently a Research Associate II at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Flagstaff, AZ.
Alyssa Grossen, M.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, Master’s Research, August 2012-May 2014
Completed Medical School in Spring of 2018 and is currently a medical resident at OU Medical Center
Lillian Flannigan
Undergraduate Honors Research, August 2013-May 2014
Completed a Master’s in Public Health & Epidemiology at Emory University, 2017. Lillian has completed medical school and is currently a pediatric resident.

Jenny Perry, M.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, August 2012-May 2013
Completed Medical School in Spring 2018
Rachel Wilson
Undergraduate Honors Research, June 2012-December 2012
Completed Medical School in Spring 2018
Patrick Block, M.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, January 2012-December 2012
Began Medical School Fall 2014

Julianne Bonifield
Undergraduate Honors Research, August 2011-May 2012
Began Pharmacy School in Fall 2013
Jessica Turner Harper, M.Sc., P.A.
Master’s Student, August 2009- December 2011
Undergraduate Research, June 2008-July 2009
Completed the OU Physician Assistant Program Dec 2014
- Thesis Title: “Mutational analysis of key amino acids within the vinyl-4-reductase domain of the redox-sensing transcriptional regulator, MsvR”
Chrystle McAndrews
Graduate Research Assistant, August 2009-July 2011

Ashley Robbins, M.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, January 2008-2011
Worked for Teva Pharmaceuticals
Completed Medical School in Spring 2018
Namisha Thapa, M.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, March 2010-March 2011
Completed Medical School in Spring 2017
Chelsea House
Undergraduate Honors Research, August 2010-March 2011

Marika Sauter, O.D.
Undergraduate Honors Research, September 2008- May 2009
Completed Optometry School at U. of Houston
Shaer Islam
Undergraduate Senior Thesis, June 2008 – December 2008
Completed a Master’s Degree in Microbiology at Southern Illinois University
Anbu Chellam Vijay
Undeclared Graduate Student, Summer 2010
Evan Francis
Independent Study, August 2009- December 2009