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Meet the Team!
Dr. Catherine Wakeman
catherine.wakeman@ttu.edu
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Texas Tech University
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Postdoc, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University (2011-2016)
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Postdoc, Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2010-2011)
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Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2009)
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B.S., Biology, Louisiana Tech University (2004)
My current research focuses on targeting evolved antibiotic vulnerabilities in Pseudomonas aeruginosa by exploiting antibiotic trade-offs, while also studying the defense mechanisms this pathogen employs against putative antimicrobials secreted by Cryptococcus neoformans. I earned a PhD in Biology (Microbiology) from Texas Tech University (Wakeman Lab) in 2024, where my research focused on microbial interactions and the evolution of antibiotic resistance in organisms involved in cystic fibrosis infections. Additionally, I hold a Master of Science in Medicine (Microbiology) from Soonchunhyang University, South Korea, where I researched anti-tuberculosis drug development from natural products. I also obtained both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh, where I studied Vibrio cholerae biofilms.
Dr. Hafij Al Mahmud
hafij-al.mahmud@ttu.edu
Post-Doctoral Fellow
I received my Bachelor of Science in Biology (Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) from the University of Texas at Austin and my Master of Science in Microbiology at Texas Tech University. My PhD research focuses on the various challenges to treating polymicrobial infections at different body sites, including unique nutrient compositions, host environmental stressors, and bacterial interactions. My goal is that by understanding how polymicrobial infections work in the body, we can prescribe more effective patient treatments.
Caroline Black
caroline.black@ttu.edu
Ph.D. Candidate
I received an Associate’s of Science in Biology from Western Texas College in 2017. I then pursued a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology at Texas Tech University; it was during this time I joined the Wakeman lab and found a passion for research. Following graduation in 2020, I decided to stay in the Wakeman lab and pursue a Masters and Ph.D. degree. My current interests are developing a working test model in crickets and genomic assemblies; however, I also study the how temperature can effect the biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Alex Luecke
alex.luecke@ttu.edu
Ph.D. Student
Co-advisor: Dr. Amanda Brown
Emmanuella Asiamah
easiamah@ttu.edu
Master's Student
I hold a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. In the fall of 2024, I joined the Wakeman Lab and am pursuing the MSc Microbiology (Thesis) at Texas Tech University. I am honored to be in this team of distinguished scholars and researchers as I embark on my scientific career. My research will investigate the impact of temperature on Pseudomonas aeruginosa's ability to colonize mosquito guts in the presence or absence of microplastics. The findings may contribute to our understanding of vector-borne disease transmission in the context of environmental changes and pollution.
Current Undergraduate Students
Purcella Lora 2024 - TTU
Baruyi Oredy 2024 - TTU
Emily Skinner 2024 - TTU
Jace Salgado 2024 - TTU
Vincent Mercado 2023 - TTU
Adolph Salinas 2022 - TTU
Alumni (Those who moved on)
PhD students:
Shariful Islam (2018-2023)
Jiwasmika Baishya (2017-2022)
Karishma Bisht (2017-2021)
Masters students:
Jayc Waller (2020-2022)
Kiddist Yihunie (2019-2021)
Jeanette Rimbey (2018-2020)
Shivani Patel (TTU Biotechnology Program) (2017-2019)
Others:
Raifah Reza (Clark's Scholar, 2024)
Sandra Alb (Clark's Scholar, 2023)
Priyanka Mathews (Clark's Scholar, 2022)
Sophie Bekerman (Clarks Scholar, 2019)
Moamen Elmassry (Research Assistant, Summer 2019)
Aiswarya Pillai (Clarks Scholar, 2018)
Undergraduate students:
Nina Walker (2023-2024)
Bryce Hiner (2023-2024)
Randy Garcia (2021-2024)
Stephanie Valdez (2022-2023)
Alexandria Rodriquez (2023)
Viviann Robles (2022-2023)
Alexsis Garcia (2020-2022)
Erika Ortiz (2022)
Gretta Poole (2022)
Garrett Matthews (2022)
Darian Winkle (2021-2022)
Ryan Singleterry (2022)
Anna Callender (2019-2022)
Emeka Okafor (2021-2022)
Quynh Ho (2021-2022)
Kate Omalley (2020-2022)
Jared Peyton (2020-2021)
Barrett Meeks (2020-2021)
Kyle Ortega (2020-2021)
McKay Hunter (2020-2021)
Brenley Perez (2018- 2021)
Alex Alem (2019-2020)
Jeremie Morris (2018- 2019)
Josef Fowler (2017- 2019)
Marianna Moncrief (2018- 2019)
Peyton Webster (2018-2019)
Jennifer Herrera (2018-2019)
Andrew Salazar (2018-2019)
Markos Zinah (2018-2019)
Kate Rentschler (2017-2019)
Jake Sellers (2017-2018)
Obadeh Shabaneh (2017-2018)
Brittany Herrin (2017-2018)
Austin Brown (2017-2018)
Riley Powers (2017)
Lauren Pert (2017)
Helen Scott (2016-2017)