Ariel Pruchnicki is a Laboratory manager for the VCAT. She is a graduate of Central Connecticut University where she studied Biology. She has a certificate in project management and supply chain management and analytics. Ariel comes from Florida with 10 years of industry experience.
Jieyu Jessilyn Gao is a first-year graduate student in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program (IGP) at Vanderbilt University. She received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Wake Forest University in May 2024. Her undergraduate research focused on epigenetics, specifically examining the roles of histone-modifying enzymes in heterochromatin formation pathways in fission yeast. Outside of the lab, she enjoys reading, playing piano, and swimming!
Xiaotao received her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Sichuan University in 1984 and Master’s degree in Microbiology from the Institute of Microbiology at the Chinese Academy of Science in 1987.Xiaotao joined in Dr. Mark Denison’s lab of Pediatric Infectious Disease at VUMC in 1992. During her tenure in Denison lab, she studied the biology of coronaviruses (CoVs), including SARS-CoV-2. Her research focused on investigating the mechanisms of CoV replication, exploring fidelity regulatory networks, examining the role of recombination in CoV evolution, and development of anti-CoV therapeutics. In 2019, she received the Edward E. Price Jr. Award for Excellence in Basic Research at VUMC and was recognized in 2023 as one of Vanderbilt’s twelve highly cited researchers. She joined the Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics as a Senior Research Specialist in 2025, where she continues to drive forward research in vaccine development and infectious disease prevention.
Olivia is from Loxley, Alabama. She is a current Vanderbilt University undergraduate student studying Neuroscience who plans to pursue a career in medicine. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, weightlifting, and spending time with friends and family.
Beatriz is a sophomore at Vanderbilt majoring in Biochemistry and minoring in Spanish for the Professions. She is passionate about providing equitable healthcare access to racial and ethnic minorities and plans on attending medical school after obtaining her undergraduate degree. Beatriz is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar and 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and hanging out with dogs!
A native of Tennessee, Matt graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in 2006 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and was Lead Researcher for the MTSU Engineering Department Chair from 2006-2008. Matt joined Vanderbilt Antibody & Protein Resource Lab in 2008 as Core Research Assistant, specializing in cloning, protein expression, and protein purification. During his tenure with VAPR, Matt conducted presentations supporting the lab and co-authored several scientific publications. Matt was instrumental in developing and piloting new biotechnologies over the next decade to further the advancement of VAPR.
In 2018, Matt joined the Crowe Vaccine Lab as a Senior Research Specialist, continuing his specialized skills in cloning, protein expression, and protein purification for iCORE. Matt transitioned to Tecan-US in 2019, combining his scientific knowledge with his technological skills. As the Field Service Applications Specialist for Southeastern US, Matt was responsible for implementing a wide variety of biological assays for use on Tecan laboratory automation equipment, including developing and installing scripts and novel approaches to instrument and software usage. Eager to return to his scientific research roots, Matt rejoined Vanderbilt and the Crowe Vaccine Center in 2024, bringing his considerable knowledge and experience with science and technology to the Vaccine Center, where he will continue contributing to antibody discovery as a Senior Research Specialist.
Savannah graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023 with majors in Biological Sciences and Anthropology. She earned my Master's degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 2024. She is a PhD student in PMI and will be working with Dr. Van Schaik and Dr. Crowe on examining health over time with specific interests in osteoimmunology and paleopathology.
Antonious Mikaeel is a research intern originally from Hermitage, Tennessee. He is currently an undergraduate at Lipscomb University studying Biochemistry and Biomedical Physics on a pre-med track. Outside of the lab and school, he enjoys fishing and playing basketball.
Rainelli is a student intern in the Crowe Lab originally from Murfreesboro Tennessee. He is currently an undergraduate at Vanderbilt University majoring in biochemistry on the pre-med track. Rainelli has gained healthcare experience through his time interning in doctor's offices and shadowing at hospitals. His main interests are within infectious diseases and oncology. In his free time, he loves to run, hike, rock climb, and cycle. Rainelli currently plans on pursuing an MD in either immunology or oncology.