Lab members

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Graduate Students

Yael Toporek

School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology
Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) Building
yael.toporek@gatech.edu

My current research focuses on microbial degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PCE), 1,4-dioxane, and investigating potential microbially-driven degradation of perfluorocarbon (PFC) compounds. In the past I have investigated the genetic mechanisms of Shewanella oneidensis to perform dissimilatory iodate reduction. Both projects have applications for bioremediation of contaminated soils and groundwater.

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Undergraduate Students

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Lab Alumni

PhD Students

Name, Year PhD Awarded (Current position)

Yael Toporek, 2023 (Postdoctoral Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory)

Ramanan Sekar, 2016 (Senior Process Engineer, Intel Corporation)

Rebecca Cooper, 2015 (BioBot Analytics)

Nadia Szeinbaum, 2014 (Scientist, Beyond Meat)

Seng Kew Wee, 2012 (Professor, University of Malaysia)

Justin Burns, 2010 (Morningside Technology Advisory)

Christine Fennessey, 2010 (Research Scientist, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.)

Jason Dale, 2007 (Microbiologist, United States Naval Research Laboratory)

Charles Moore, 2002 (Director of Research, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Switzerland)

Carolyn Haller, 2002 (Lab Director, Chaikof Lab)

Roy Wade, 2002 (Medical Doctor, Atlanta, GA)

Hope Howard, 2002 (High School Science Teacher, Loudon County)

Kristine Lowe, 1999 (Chair of Department of Biology, University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley)

Brian Burnes, 2000 (Professor, University of West Alabama)

Adonia McKinzi, 1999 (Ecologist, State of Washington)

Master’s Students

Name, Year MS Awarded (Current position)

Ellen Taratus, 2000 (CDC Journal Editor, “Preventing Chronic Disease”)

Sean Eubanks, 1998

Jayathi Kesavan, 1998

Michael Blakeney, 1996 (Vice President, Alliance Insurance Services)

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Name, Years spent in DiChristina Lab (Current position)

Andrew Burns, 2016-2018 (Postdoc, University of Georgia)

Nadia Szeinbaum, 2010-2017 (Scientist, Beyond Meat)

Brian Ginn, 2010-2012

Nalini Mehta, 2005-2007 (Postdoc, Emory University)

Johnson Haas, 1998-2001 (Associate Professor, Western Michigan University)