Featured Trainees
Featured Trainees are students, postdoctoral fellows, practicing physicians and faculty, and others who work under the tutelage of Levy CIMAR Core Faculty members and who stand out for their efforts in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Trainees might be graduate students, antimicrobial stewards, educators, scientific researchers, medical doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, or a combination of any of these and other professions. If you are a Levy CIMAR Core Faculty member and would like to nominate someone for “Featured Trainee” distinction, please email us any time at cimar@tufts.edu.
— Spring ’26 Featured Trainee:
Ashley Luo
- Second-Year Molecular Microbiology (MERGE-ID Track) PhD Candidate
- Researching how pathogens develop systems to defend against phages and how phages evolve to develop counter defense mechanisms against these systems
Ashley Luo is a second-year Tufts Molecular Microbiology PhD candidate on the MERGE-ID (Medically-oriented Research in Graduate Education – Infectious Disease) Track studying bacteriophage-bacteria interactions in the lab of Levy CIMAR Core Faculty member Dr. Wai-Leung Ng. There is a growing interest in phage-based therapeutics for use in combination with or as alternatives to antibiotics to treat antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Phages are viruses that attack bacteria, meaning that they can prevent harmful effects of specific microorganisms in patients. Ashley is specifically interested how pathogens defend against phages and how phages evolve to develop counter defense mechanisms against these systems.
Ashley is currently working to understand how a phage protein inhibits the CBASS phage defense system found in many different bacteria. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind bacteriophage-bacteria interactions could contribute to designing and optimizing phage therapies.
As a first-generation undergraduate and now graduate student, Ashley's journey in science was not straightforward as she explored different areas before determining what interested her most. "I did a lot of exploration during my undergraduate years at Northeastern and was involved in projects in behavioral pharmacology at the Center for Drug Discovery to neurobiology at Harvard Medical School," she says. "I finally dipped my toes into microbiological research when I came across PhagePro, a startup founded by CIMAR's Dr. Andrew Camilli and his former trainee Dr. Minmin Yen during my junior year. This is where I first became aware of just how alarming the antibiotic resistance crisis was and how PhagePro was developing phage therapies to address it. It was also the first time I had ever heard of phages, and I was extremely fascinated by their relationship with their bacterial hosts." Like Dr. Ng, Dr. Camilli is a professor of Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Tufts as well as a core faculty member of the Levy CIMAR.
Although she is only in her second year at Tufts, Ashley already knows what she wants to do next. "I want to do a postdoctoral fellowship and then become a principal investigator of my own lab where I can continue to study the phage-bacteria evolutionary arms race," she says. "I definitely see myself involved in running pipeline programs to support underrepresented students including first-generation college students like me."
Outside of lab, Ashley is passionate about giving back and mentoring undergraduate students from underrepresented groups. Her own academic career was shaped in part by the NIH Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP), and, she says, pipeline programs that help students gain experience in research remain important to her.
Additionally, Ashley is part of the SACNAS (Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics & Native Americans in Science) e-board and on the annual Boston Bacterial Meeting's Organizing Committee. She was a Pathway to PhD TA in January, mentoring undergraduate students from UMass Boston.
In her free time, Ashley enjoys creative outlets such as "junk journaling," painting, and drawing. She loves going to concerts, fan conventions, and exploring new restaurants around Boston.
Meet all of the Levy CIMAR's Featured Trainees:
Maryam Utegulova, 2025 Recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine
UMass Boston junior exploring how bacterial spores transition from dormancy to germination—a process crucial to infection recurrence and antibiotic resistance.
Mallika Subramanian, 2025 Recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine
Tufts junior researching tick-borne illnesses and majoring in Community Health on a pre-medical track; studying antibiotic resistant babesiosis and the potential for novel therapies in the lab of Tufts Medical Center’s Dr. Edouard Vannier
Asli Dirik, Tufts IDoc Student Specializing in Bioresponsive Materials and Wearable Interfaces for Monitoring Female Health
Interdisciplinary doctoral student aiming to set new standards for innovation in “fem-tech” (technology that focuses on female health)
Mohamed Salem Jedeh, BDS, MSc, Dean of Zintan College of Dentistry, Tufts PhD Candidate Investigating AMR in Dental Patients
Dean of Zintan College of Dentistry at Zintan University in Libya; PhD Candidate in Clinical and Translational Sciences at Tufts University investigating antibiotic resistance among dental patients in Libya
Kap Sum Foong, MD, LEAP Fellow for 2023-2024 and Tufts CTSI K12 Scholar for 2025-2027
Attending physician and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts Medicine; LEAP Fellow for 2023-2024 and Tufts CTSI K12 Scholar for 2025-2027
Krystal Mutebi, 2024 Recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine
Tufts Senior, studying Community Health via the pre-medical track; 2024 Levy CIMAR Summer Scholar researching how to address health disparities in antibiotic prescribing.
Nhi Van, Research Assistant in the laboratory of the Levy CIMAR’s Bree Aldridge, PhD, and a member of the Aldridge Lab’s “DiaMOND” team
Research Assistant in the laboratory of the Levy CIMAR’s Bree Aldridge, PhD, and a member of the Aldridge Lab’s “DiaMOND” team interested in learning to optimize drug combination therapies for tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria.
Xiaoxu Lin, Tufts Vet Doctoral Student Investigating How Mtb May Control its Metabolism by Regulating Lipid Production
Fourth-Year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student at Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in the Amanda Martinot Lab studying Mycobacterium tuberculosis and how it may control its metabolism by regulating lipid production.
Umaojo Ojogbane and Julia Hershelman, Biology PhD Students and Members of the Wolfe Lab Antibiotic Resistance Team
Two first-year Biology PhD Students—Umaojo Ojogbane and Julia Hershelman—work with Levy CIMAR’s Benjamin Wolfe, PhD, to explore the ecology of antimicrobial resistance in fermented foods. Both are members of the Wolfe Lab antibiotic resistance team.
David Manning, Recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine
Senior at Tufts University’s School of Arts and Sciences working with Levy CIMAR investigator Dr. Alysse Wurcel on researching the implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in state prisons and jails. Recipient of the 2023 Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine.
Jonathan Samuel, Recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship in Science and Medicine
Sophomore at Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences working with Levy CIMAR investigator Dr. Ralph Isberg on understanding factors contributing to antibiotic resistance in A. baumannii
Rachel Ende, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab of CIMAR’s Dr. Joan Mecsas, studying mechanisms of synergistic antibiotic interactions against Klebsiella pneumoniae in the lungs
Postdoctoral Scholar & first-year IRACDA Fellow in the lab of Levy CIMAR’s Dr. Joan Mecsas, studying mechanisms of synergistic antibiotic interactions against Klebsiella pneumoniae in the lungs
Irene Nagawa, Inaugural Recipient of the Levy CIMAR’s Undergraduate Summer Internship
Senior at UMass Boston majoring in biology and working with the Levy CIMAR’s Aimee Shen, PhD; Inaugural recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship for Underrepresented Groups in Science and Medicine
Rebecca Tenner, Inaugural Recipient of the Levy CIMAR’s Undergraduate Summer Internship
Rising Senior at Tufts University’s Undergraduate School of Arts & Sciences working with the Levy CIMAR’s Alysse Wurcel, MD; Inaugural recipient of the Levy CIMAR Undergraduate Summer Internship for Underrepresented Groups in Science and Medicine
Emma Price, VMD, master’s candidate in Clinical and Translational Science at Tufts University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2nd year master’s candidate in Clinical and Translational Science at Tufts University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences working with the Levy CIMAR’s Claire Fellman DVM, PhD, and Shira Doron MD, to identify factors driving antimicrobial prescription in hospitalized dogs and cats
Joshua Khuvis, MD Candidate at Tufts University School of Medicine and Levy CIMAR Student Researcher
MD Candidate at Tufts University School of Medicine and Levy CIMAR Student Researcher working with Dr. Shira Doron on exploring the impact of diagnostic stewardship interventions on Clostridioides difficile test ordering practices and results
Efrat Hamami, Molecular Microbiology PhD Candidate Working to Identify Vulnerabilities in Drug Resistant A. baumannii Isolates
Molecular Microbiology PhD Candidate Working in the Ralph Isberg Lab to Identify Vulnerabilities in Drug Resistant A. baumannii Isolates
Kathleen Davis, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar Working on Adapting Drug Combination Testing of Clinical Isolates
Postdoctoral Scholar working to identify antibiotic and small molecule combinations that function against problematic community and hospital-acquired pathogens; Working on adapting drug combination testing of clinical isolates
Shailab Shrestha, MERGE-ID Ph.D. Candidate and Recipient of the Tufts GSBS Fellowship For International Students
PhD Candidate in Molecular Microbiology, MERGE-ID (Medically-oriented Research in Graduate Education – Infectious Disease) track at Tufts University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Inaugural Recipient, Tufts University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Fellowship Supporting International Student Education, 2018
Courtney Chan, Infection Prevention Coordinator, Medical Scribe, and Researcher
Infection Prevention Coordinator and Infectious Diseases Clinic Medical Scribe at Tufts Medical Center; Research contributor and co-author with the Levy CIMAR’s Drs. Maya Nadimpalli and Shira Doron: “Antibiotic Resistance: A Call to Action to Prevent the Next Epidemic of Inequality,” in Nature Medicine (2021)
Eve Abraha, Undergraduate Researcher and Co-Teacher
Undergraduate Researcher at Tufts Medical Center working with the Levy CIMAR’s Dr. Shira Doron; Co-teacher in the PARE (Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment) program’s short course, PARE-Seq, under the guidance of the Levy CIMAR’s Drs. Carol Bascom-Slack and Amy Pickering
Aubrey Specht, DVM Candidate and Award Winner, 2020 Tufts Vet Summer Research Training Program
Second-Year Graduate Student pursuing a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) at the Cummings School; Winner, Basic Science Award at the 2020 Tufts Vet Summer Research Training Program
Iyob Gebremariam, Levy CIMAR Software Developer
Software Developer working with the Levy CIMAR on our Cutter and DiaMOND research and analytics tools; Masters student studying International Business at the Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
Juan A. Hernández-Bird, MERGE-ID PhD Student
2019 American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Capstone Fellowship awardee and PhD Candidate in Molecular Microbiology – MERGE-ID (Medically-oriented Research in Graduate Education – Infectious Disease) track at Tufts University’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Scarlet Bliss, Undergraduate Laidlaw Fellow
Laidlaw Scholar working with CIMAR’s Drs. Amy Pickering and Carol Bascom-Slack to incorporate molecular methods into the PARE (Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment) project
Erica Fuhrmeister, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar and National Science Foundation Fellow
Postdoctoral Fellow, Pickering Lab, Tufts University School of Engineering; Recipient: National Science Foundation Fellowship titled, “Transfer of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes betwee
Gabriela Andujar Vazquez, MD, Inaugural LEAP Fellow
Attending physician, Division of Geographic Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Tufts Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine; Inaugural LEAP Fellow for 2018-2019