People

Principal Investigator

  • Kristen Ogden, Ph.D.

    Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology

    Kristen earned her B.S. in Microbiology from Auburn University and her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Vanderbilt University.

    A3101F Medical Center North
    (615) 343-6953
    kristen.ogden@vumc.org

Research Staff

  • Julia Diller, B.S.

    Research Specialist

    Julia earned her B.S. in Biology from Tennessee Technological University and worked for several years as a cytogenetic technologist. She is currently investigating  reovirus replication and reassortment during coinfection and superinfection and dsRNA virus egress and infection in extracellular vesicles.

    A3206 Medical Center North
    julia.r.diller@vumc.org

  • Kylie Sartalamacchia, M.S.

    Research Assistant I

    Kylie received her M.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida. In the lab, she is investigating the functions of rotavirus nonstructural proteins in viral replication and spread and dsRNA virus egress and infection in extracellular vesicles.  

Students

  • Alejandra Flores, B.S.

    Graduate Student

    Alejandra received her B.S. in Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biochemistry from the University of Texas in El Paso. In the lab, she is investigating reovirus defective viral genome segments and the RNA sequences required for segment packaging into virus particles.

  • Jamie Francisco, M.S.

    Summer Intern

    Jamie received her M.S. in Medical Sciences from Saint Xavier University. She currently attends medical school at Ponce Health Sciences University. In the lab, Jamie is investigating superinfection exclusion during heterologous dsRNA virus infection. 

  • Ryan Xavier

    Summer Intern

    Ryan conducts undergraduate studies at the University of the South (Sewanee). In the Ogden lab, he is investigating contributions of reovirus outer capsid proteins to virus exit from cells in extracellular vesicles. 

Lab Alumni

  • Sydni Smith, Ph.D.

    Graduate Student (2019-2024)

    Sydni Caet received her B.S. in Microbiology and Cell and Molecular Biology from Oklahoma State University. In the lab, she investigated dsRNA virus release in extracellular vesicles and its impact on genetic complementation. Sydni Caet received her PhD from Vanderbilt University in 2024. 

  • Maxwell Wegner, M.S.

    Graduate Student (2022-2023)

    Max received his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Arizona. In the lab, he studied the effects of primary viral infection on superinfection in intestinal epithelial cells. He received his Mater's in Biomedical Sciences from Vanderbilt University in 2023.    

  • Jimmy Castillo, B.S.

    Summer Intern (2023)

    Jimmy is a Medical Student at Ponce Health Sciences University. In the Ogden lab, he investigated rotavirus multiparticle infection of cells in association with extracellular vesicles.

  • Tim Thoner, Ph.D.

    Graduate Student (2018-2022)

    Tim received his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Randolph-Macon College. In the lab, he investigated the frequency of reovirus reassortment and localization of viral RNA during co-infection, as well as the effects of non-genomic RNA packaging on viruses and cells. He received his PhD from Vanderbilt University in 2022. 

  • Vanesa Veletanlic, M.S.

    Research Assistant II (2020-2021)

    Vanesa earned her B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry from Western Kentucky University. In the Ogden lab, she investigated functions of the species B rotavirus NSP1-1 protein in tropism and spread.

  • Monique Porter, B.S.

    Summer Intern (2021)

    Monique earned her B.S. in Microbiology from Pennsylvania State University. In the Ogden lab, she investigated the interactions between avian deltacoronaviruses accessory proteins and cells.  

  • Max Carter, B.S.

    Research Assistant I (2017-2019)

    Max earned his B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish from Wake Forest University. In the Ogden lab, he investigated rotavirus outer capsid antigenicity and cell-type tropism.

  • Shania Sanchez, B.S.

    Summer Intern (2019)

    Shania was a Biology major at the University of New Mexico. In the Ogden lab, she studied the capacity of vaccinated infant sera to neutralize different rotavirus genotypes.

  • Madeline Meloy, B.S.

    Undergraduate Intern (2017-2019)

    Madeline did her undergraduate studies majoring in Biochemistry and Chemical Biology at Vanderbilt University. In the lab, she investigated the frequency of reovirus reassortment during co-infection.

  • Sean Halloran, B.S.

    Summer Intern (2017 & 2018)

    Sean did his undergraduate studies at the University of the South (Sewanee). In the Ogden lab, he investigated conformational mobility of the reovirus attachment protein during cell entry.

  • Jake Long, B.A.

    Research Assistant (2016-2017)

    Jake earned his B.A. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. In the Ogden lab, he investigated reovirus reassortment and attachment mechanisms.