Rachel Van Gelder, Ph.D.
Research Associate - from Mercer Island, WA
Rachel graduated from Dartmouth College in 2018 with an AB in biology with mathematics. She did her undergraduate thesis on heterogeneity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis lung in Deborah Hogan's lab. Rachel came home to Seattle and joined the Ram Lab in the summer of 2019. Outside of immune gene regulation and viruses, she enjoys hiking, skiing, climbing, running, and, above all, nachos. Rachel was previously funded by the Institute of Translational Health Sciences - TL1 Training Grant. She is currently funded by Dr. Richard Titus Endowed Fellowship. Contact
Research Associate - from Mercer Island, WA
Rachel graduated from Dartmouth College in 2018 with an AB in biology with mathematics. She did her undergraduate thesis on heterogeneity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the cystic fibrosis lung in Deborah Hogan's lab. Rachel came home to Seattle and joined the Ram Lab in the summer of 2019. Outside of immune gene regulation and viruses, she enjoys hiking, skiing, climbing, running, and, above all, nachos. Rachel was previously funded by the Institute of Translational Health Sciences - TL1 Training Grant. She is currently funded by Dr. Richard Titus Endowed Fellowship. Contact
Yo Okamura, Ph.D.
Japanese Society for Promotion of Science Fellow - from Miyazaki, Japan
Yo received his Ph.D. in 2021 from the University of Miyazaki in Japan, where he studied the innate immune responses in fish and crustaceans. Yo investigated the function of interleukin 17 in the gut of medaka. He joined the Ram lab in autumn of 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He is studying comparative innate immune responses.
Current Occupation: Assistant Professor Shizuoka University Japan
Japanese Society for Promotion of Science Fellow - from Miyazaki, Japan
Yo received his Ph.D. in 2021 from the University of Miyazaki in Japan, where he studied the innate immune responses in fish and crustaceans. Yo investigated the function of interleukin 17 in the gut of medaka. He joined the Ram lab in autumn of 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He is studying comparative innate immune responses.
Current Occupation: Assistant Professor Shizuoka University Japan
Kim Somfleth, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow - from Adelaide Australia
Kim received his Ph.D. in Physics in 2020 from the University of Adelaide, where he worked on lattice quantum chromodynamics. Kim is developing new computational approaches to study the evolution of immune genes. He joined the Ram lab in 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow.
Senior Fellow - from Adelaide Australia
Kim received his Ph.D. in Physics in 2020 from the University of Adelaide, where he worked on lattice quantum chromodynamics. Kim is developing new computational approaches to study the evolution of immune genes. He joined the Ram lab in 2021 as a postdoctoral fellow.
Julian R. Smith, Ph.D
RA - from La Mirada, CA
Julian graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2014 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. After graduating he studied blood-brain barrier breakdown and repair in the context of neuroinflammation in the laboratory of Dritan Agalliu at Columbia University. Julian joined the Ram Lab in 2018. Julian is studying the role of alternative splicing in programming innate immunity. Julian was funded by the T32 UW-Immunology Training Grant. Julian graduated in 2023.
RA - from La Mirada, CA
Julian graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 2014 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. After graduating he studied blood-brain barrier breakdown and repair in the context of neuroinflammation in the laboratory of Dritan Agalliu at Columbia University. Julian joined the Ram Lab in 2018. Julian is studying the role of alternative splicing in programming innate immunity. Julian was funded by the T32 UW-Immunology Training Grant. Julian graduated in 2023.
Noa Etzyon
UW Student - Mary Gates research scholar
Noa is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying Public Health-Global Health. As an undergraduate researcher, Noa is currently studying the effects of CELF2 protein in RNA regulatory mechanisms that control innate antiviral immunity and the role of alternative splicing in innate programming immunity. Noa was in the lab from 2021-2023.
UW Student - Mary Gates research scholar
Noa is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington studying Public Health-Global Health. As an undergraduate researcher, Noa is currently studying the effects of CELF2 protein in RNA regulatory mechanisms that control innate antiviral immunity and the role of alternative splicing in innate programming immunity. Noa was in the lab from 2021-2023.
Alexandra Dinu
Staff
Alex graduated from the University of Washington and was a Mary Gates Scholar. Alex studied the role of interleukin-26 in antimicrobial responses. Alex joined the Ram Lab in 2019.
Staff
Alex graduated from the University of Washington and was a Mary Gates Scholar. Alex studied the role of interleukin-26 in antimicrobial responses. Alex joined the Ram Lab in 2019.
Matthew Hendricks, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow (2018-2021)- from Richland, WA
Matt received his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 in the laboratory of Jennifer Bomberger studying the interactions between bacteria, viruses and host airway epithelial cells during respiratory viral co-infection in the lung. He joined the Ram Lab in the summer of 2018. He studied conserved cytokine responses in human and zebrafish.
Current occupation: Scientist at Gilead therapeutics, San Francisco CA.
Senior Fellow (2018-2021)- from Richland, WA
Matt received his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2017 in the laboratory of Jennifer Bomberger studying the interactions between bacteria, viruses and host airway epithelial cells during respiratory viral co-infection in the lung. He joined the Ram Lab in the summer of 2018. He studied conserved cytokine responses in human and zebrafish.
Current occupation: Scientist at Gilead therapeutics, San Francisco CA.
Johannes Schwerk, Ph.D.
Acting Instructor (2014-2021) - from Hoheneggelsen, Germany
Hannes received his PhD in Infection Biology in 2014 from Hannover Medical School in Germany. He joined as a Senior Fellow in the Ram Lab in 2014, which was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). In 2019, he was promoted as an Acting Instructor in UW Immunology. He is investigating the role of RNA binding proteins during viral infections.
Current occupation:: Senior Scientist at Poseida Therapeutics, San Diego CA
Acting Instructor (2014-2021) - from Hoheneggelsen, Germany
Hannes received his PhD in Infection Biology in 2014 from Hannover Medical School in Germany. He joined as a Senior Fellow in the Ram Lab in 2014, which was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). In 2019, he was promoted as an Acting Instructor in UW Immunology. He is investigating the role of RNA binding proteins during viral infections.
Current occupation:: Senior Scientist at Poseida Therapeutics, San Diego CA
Snehal Ozarkar, M.S.
Research Scientist & Lab Manager (2013-2021) - from Mumbai, India
Snehal completed her M.S. in Biology at Wayne State University, Department of Biological Sciences in Detroit. Snehal joined the Ram lab in 2013.
Current occupation: Associate Scientist at Lumen Biosciences, Seattle WA
Research Scientist & Lab Manager (2013-2021) - from Mumbai, India
Snehal completed her M.S. in Biology at Wayne State University, Department of Biological Sciences in Detroit. Snehal joined the Ram lab in 2013.
Current occupation: Associate Scientist at Lumen Biosciences, Seattle WA
Frank Soveg, Ph.D
Graduate Student (2015-2021), Immunology - from Cicero, IL
Frank completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University in 2013 with a B.S. in zoology. Following this, he studied leukocyte recruitment during allergic disease in the laboratory of Joan Cook-Mills at Northwestern University. He joined the Ram lab in 2016 and received his Ph.D in 2020. He studied localization based function of interferon stimulated genes. Frank was funded by the F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.
Current occupation: Scientist at Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. Seattle WA
Graduate Student (2015-2021), Immunology - from Cicero, IL
Frank completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Illinois University in 2013 with a B.S. in zoology. Following this, he studied leukocyte recruitment during allergic disease in the laboratory of Joan Cook-Mills at Northwestern University. He joined the Ram lab in 2016 and received his Ph.D in 2020. He studied localization based function of interferon stimulated genes. Frank was funded by the F31 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award.
Current occupation: Scientist at Alpine Immune Sciences, Inc. Seattle WA
Lomon So, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow (2016-2020) - from Seoul, South Korea
Solomon received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine in 2015 in the laboratory of David Fruman. Solomon joined the Ram Lab in 2016 as a Senior Fellow. He studied the role of mRNA translation in T-cell activation and suppression.
Current occupation: Scientist II at Kumquat Biosciences, San Diego CA.
Senior Fellow (2016-2020) - from Seoul, South Korea
Solomon received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine in 2015 in the laboratory of David Fruman. Solomon joined the Ram Lab in 2016 as a Senior Fellow. He studied the role of mRNA translation in T-cell activation and suppression.
Current occupation: Scientist II at Kumquat Biosciences, San Diego CA.
Adriana Forero, Ph.D.
Senior Fellow (2016-2020) - from Barranquilla, Colombia
Adriana received her Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Microbiology in 2014 from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the Ram Lab in the spring of 2016. She received postdoctoral training in systems approaches in innate immunity at the University of Washington.
Current occupation: Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, Columbus OH
Senior Fellow (2016-2020) - from Barranquilla, Colombia
Adriana received her Ph.D. in Molecular Virology and Microbiology in 2014 from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the Ram Lab in the spring of 2016. She received postdoctoral training in systems approaches in innate immunity at the University of Washington.
Current occupation: Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, Columbus OH
Vy Nguyen
Research Assistant Volunteer (2018-2019) - from Lynnwood, WA
Vy is a second-year undergraduate studying Biochemistry at the University of Washington. She joined the Ram Lab in 2018.
Stephen Parker
Research Assistant Volunteer (2018-2019)
Stephen was an undergraduate volunteer and Microbiology major at the University of Washington.
Rochelle Joslyn, Ph.D.
Graduate Student, Immunology (2011-2018)
Rochelle began her predoctoral training in the Department of Immunology in 2011 and joined the Ram Lab in 2012 and graduated in 2018. She investigated the role of long non-coding RNAs in immunity.
Graduate Student, Immunology (2011-2018)
Rochelle began her predoctoral training in the Department of Immunology in 2011 and joined the Ram Lab in 2012 and graduated in 2018. She investigated the role of long non-coding RNAs in immunity.
Chia Heng Lee, B.S.
Research Scientist Assistant (2016-2018) - from Taipei, Taiwan/ROC
Chia received his B.S. in Microbiology from the University of Washington in 2017. Chia was in the Ram lab from 2016 to 2018.
Current: Medical student at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia.
Bryan Chou
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2016)
Current occupation: Product Developer II, Hoka, Portland OR
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2016)
Current occupation: Product Developer II, Hoka, Portland OR
Jennifer Look
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2016)
Undergraduate Researcher (2015-2016)
Chrissie Lim, Ph.D.
Graduate Student, Immunology (2011-2016)
Chrissie received her B.S. in Immunology from the University College London in 2010. She was in the Ram lab from 2012-2016 for her graduate studies. Chrissie was funded by the National Science Scholarship from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore (A*STAR).
Current occupation: Scientist I, MiroBio Ltd. Oxford UK
Graduate Student, Immunology (2011-2016)
Chrissie received her B.S. in Immunology from the University College London in 2010. She was in the Ram lab from 2012-2016 for her graduate studies. Chrissie was funded by the National Science Scholarship from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore (A*STAR).
Current occupation: Scientist I, MiroBio Ltd. Oxford UK
Adelle McFarland
Research Scientist (2011-2013)
Adelle joined the Ram lab in 2011. She served as a research scientist from 2011 to 2013.
Current occupation: Principal Scientist, Aclaris Therapeutics, St. Louis MO.
Research Scientist (2011-2013)
Adelle joined the Ram lab in 2011. She served as a research scientist from 2011 to 2013.
Current occupation: Principal Scientist, Aclaris Therapeutics, St. Louis MO.
Abigail Jarret
Research Scientist (2012-2015)
Abby joined the Ram lab in 2011. She served as a research scientist from 2012 to 2015.
Current occupation: Scientist, 23andMe Therapeutics, SanFrancisco CA
Research Scientist (2012-2015)
Abby joined the Ram lab in 2011. She served as a research scientist from 2012 to 2015.
Current occupation: Scientist, 23andMe Therapeutics, SanFrancisco CA
MeeAe Hong
Research Scientist (2012-2015)
MeeAe joined the lab in 2012 as an undergraduate volunteer and went on to serve as a research scientist from 2013 to 2015.
Current occupation: Dentist, NC.
Research Scientist (2012-2015)
MeeAe joined the lab in 2012 as an undergraduate volunteer and went on to serve as a research scientist from 2013 to 2015.
Current occupation: Dentist, NC.
Lara Kropp
Research Assistant Volunteer (2013-2014)
Current occupation: Director of Technical Product Management, Cell Therapy & Biologics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Research Assistant Volunteer (2013-2014)
Current occupation: Director of Technical Product Management, Cell Therapy & Biologics, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
