The Columbus Lab
at the University of Virginia
Current Lab Members
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DR. LINDA COLUMBUS
Principal Investigator (PI)
Postdoctoral Research: The Scripps Research Institute
Advisors: Kurt Wuthrich and Scott Lesley
PhD: The University of California Los Angeles (2001)
Advisor: Wayne Hubbell
BA, high honors: Smith College (1996)
Advisor: David Bickar
Professor Columbus is interested in understanding membrane biophysics to investigate the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins involved in bacterial pathogenesis.
DR. MEAGAN BELCHER DUFRISNE
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD: Physiology, Columbia University (2018)
Advisor: Filippo Mancia
BS: Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno (2011)
BA: Mathematics, University of Nevada, Reno (2011)
Meagan’s research aims to identify the molecular determinants of the interactions between Opa proteins and their receptors in vitro, in order to gain a better understanding of bacterial pathogen – host interactions.
DR. CHRISTOPHER BARYIAMES
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD: Chemistry, Univ. Texas at Austin (2021)
Advisor: Carlos Baiz
BS: Chemistry, Providence College (2016)
Chris' research focuses on measuring the driving forces that drive lipid-lipid and lipid - protein interactions.
JACKSON BARTHOLOMEW-SCHOCH
Graduate Student
BS: Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry
BS: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Appalachian State University (2022)
Jackson is currently working on LspA and lipid interactions.
JUANEISHA FINNIE
Graduate Student
BA: Biochemistry (2023)
Minors in legal studies and psychology
Juaneisha is working on the Opa project.
CONNOR McDERMOTT
Graduate Student
BA: French Language and Culture, BS: Biology with a concentration in Physiology and Neurobiology, BS: Chemistry, University of Maryland at College Park (2020)
Connor is currently working on the Opa project.
MATT NECELIS
Graduate Student
BS: Biochemistry, Rowan University (2019)
Matt is currently working on the bicelle project.
ANGIE LAMBOY RIVERA
Lab Specialist Intermediate
BS: Biology, University of Puerto Rico (2022)
JACKSON BARTHOLOMEW-SCHOCH
Graduate Student
BS: Chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry
BS: Cellular and Molecular Biology, Appalachian State University (2022)
JUANEISHA FINNIE
Graduate Student
BA: Biochemistry
Minors in legal studies and psychology, University of Mississippi (2021)
CONNOR McDERMOTT
Graduate Student
BA: French Language and Culture, BS: Biology with a concentration in Physiology and Neurobiology, BS: Chemistry, University of Maryland at College Park (2020)
MATT NECELIS
Graduate Student
BS: Biochemistry, Rowan University (2019)
ANINDA DUTTA
Graduate Student
Integrated BS-MS: Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (2021)
KEVIN NGUYỄN
Graduate Student
Postbaccalaureate Research: National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
BS: Biology; Certificate: Mathematics, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2021)
MONIKA WIELINIEC
Graduate Student
Long-cycle Master's degree program (5 years, no Bachelor): Biophysics, Jagiellonian University (2022)
THOMAS BASTA
Undergraduate Student
Majoring in Biochemistry at UVA
Previous Lab Members
DR. MEAGAN BELCHER DUFRISNE
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD: Physiology, Columbia University (2018)
Advisor: Filippo Mancia
BS: Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno (2011)
BA: Mathematics, University of Nevada, Reno (2011)
Current: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
DR. CHRISTOPHER BARYIAMES
Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD: Chemistry, Univ. Texas at Austin (2021)
Advisor: Carlos Baiz
BS: Chemistry, Providence College (2016)
Current: Project Associate UVA Cancer Center
DR. TRACY CALDWELL
Graduate Student
PhD: Biophysics, University of Virginia (2020)
BS: Biophysical Chemistry, James Madison
University (2015)
Current: Pursuing a career in occupational therapy
DR. NICOLE SWOPE
Graduate Student
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2020)
BS: Biochemistry, Saginaw Valley State University (2015)
Current: Research Scientist at Viela Bio
DR. STEVEN KELLER
Graduate Student
PhD: Biophysics, University of Virginia (2019)
BS: Physics, Davidson University (2014)
Current: PostDoc at University of Pennsylvania
DR. JASON KUHN
Graduate Student and PostDoc
PhD: Biophysics, University of Virginia (2018)
BS: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (2010)
Current: PostDoc at Oxford Brooks University
DR. JEN MARTIN
Graduate Student and PostDoc
Postdoctoral Fellow: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2016-2019)
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2016)
BS: Biology, Penn State Berks County (2011)
Current: Assistant Professor at Stockton University
DR. MARISSA KIEBER
Graduate Student
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2018)
BS: Chemistry, University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill (2012)
Current: Pharmaceutical Sciences Specialist at
Johnson & Johnson
DR. ASTON BROCK
Graduate Student
Clinical Chemistry Fellow, University of Virginia (2019)
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2016)
BS: Chemistry, Winthrop University (2011)
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DR. RYAN LO
Graduate Student
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2014)
BS: Chemistry, Franklin and Marshall College (2009)
Current: Senior Research Scientist at Charles River Laboratories
DR. RYAN OLIVER
Graduate Student
PostDoc: TR-SAS, Lund University (2019)
PostDoc: Bio-SANS, Oak Ridge National Lab (2018)
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2013)
MS: Chemistry, University of University of North Carolina (2010)
BS: Chemistry, University of North Carolina (2005)
DR. DAN FOX
Graduate Student
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2013)
BS: Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh (2007)
Current: Senior Analytical Chemist at Albemarle Corporation
DR. BRETT KRONCKE
Graduate Student
PostDoc: Vanderbilt University (2012)
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2012)
BS: Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007)
Current: Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at Vanderbilt University
DR. ALISON DEWALD
Graduate Student
PhD: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2012)
M.Ed: Educational Psychology, Temple University (2006)
BS: Chemistry, Penn State University (2001)
Current: Associate Professor at Salisbury University
ETHAN SESCO
Graduate Student
MS: Chemistry, University of Virginia (2022)
BS: Chemistry, Wake Forest (2020)
SPENCER GREWE
Graduate Student
MA: Chemistry, University of Virginia
BS: Biophysical Chemistry, James Madison
University (2019)