Building a great research team
Björn F.C. Kafsack, Ph.D. (Principal Investigator)
Björn joined Weill Cornell Medical College in 2015 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. He received his doctoral training at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Michigan investigating how proteins secreted by the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii allow it enter and exit host cells.
As a postdoctoral fellow at Princeton University, Björn explored the molecular underpinnings of how malaria parasites initiate the development of its sexual stages, a process critical for their transmission to the mosquito. He was a student in the Biology of Parasitism course in 2004.
Photo Credit: Howard Tu, 2015
Riward Campelo, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Riward hails from Caracas, Venezuela where he completed his Ph.D. at the Central University of Venezuela in 2015. His graduate research under Dr. José Luis Ramirez focussed on biochemical characterization of kinetoplasmid telomerases. Riward has been the recipient of a number of awards including selection in the Novartis Next Generation Scientist Program. When he's not in the lab, Riward is enjoys old-school video games and is a big sneakerhead.
Wahida Tabassum, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Wahida completed her PhD with Prof. Mrinal Kanti Bhattacharyya at University of Hyderabad, India.
Her research focused on unravelling the canonical and non-canonical functions of Hsp90 in Plasmodium chromatin biology. Wahida enjoys reading novels and gardening.
Gaëlle Neveu, PhD (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Gaelle completed her PhD at Institut Cochin in Paris with Dr. Catherine Lavazec, where she developed an in vitro model of P. falciparum infection of erythrocyte precursors in the bone marrow parenchyma. Using this model, she found that infection with P. falciparum gametocytes delays erythroblast maturation to prevent the release of immature gametocytes into circulation. Gaelle also likes playing badminton and gardening.
Ryan Mansell (Technician)
Ryan completed his BS in both Cell/Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at SUNY New Paltz. His super-cool undergraduate research focused on identifying host genes that control the susceptibility of Paramecium to infection by parasitic Holospora bacteria. It gets even better: these bacterial live in the nucleus of their host!
When Ryan is not in the research lab, he enjoys spending his time outdoors, biking, hiking, and gardening.
Sam Henning (Technician)
Sam received a B.A. from Oberlin College in 2022. He majored in Chemistry and Biochemistry and minored in Jewish Studies and Politics. His undergraduate research focused on the use of synthetic melanin-like catechol polymers as colorimetric detectors for metal ions in water. The hope is that these detectors could be used by residents to detect lead contamination in their tap water without the need for special equipment or expertise. When he’s not doing science, Sam enjoys playing Civilization, following current events, and listening to podcasts.
You ?
We currently have open technician and post-doc positions. See here.
Past Members:
2016-2022 Chantal Harris, PhD (Graduate Student, currently Post-doc at Genentech)
2019-2022 Kit Kennedy, PhD (Post-doc, currently Research Scientist at Vow Biotech)
2016-2022 Christopher Nötzel, PhD (Graduate Student, currently Post-doc in Boris Striepen’s group at UPenn Vet)
2020-2021 Divya Beri, PhD, (Post-doc, currently Post-doc at NY Blood Center)
2018-2020 Leen Vanheer, MD (Research Fellow, currently Ph.D. student at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
2019 Idri Abdullah (ACCESS Summer Student, currently college student at University of Maryland)
2015-2018 Xinran Tong (Technician, currently Ph.D. student at Weill Cornell Medicine)
2018 Gabrielle Paniccia (ACCESS Summer Student, currently Ph.D. student at Rockefeller University)
2017-2018 Nusrat Tabassum (Bronx High School of Science Summer student, currently Pharmacy student at St. Johns University)
2017 Victor Vazquez Marrero (ACCESS Summer Student, currently Ph.D. student at University of Pennsylvania)
2017 Scott Segura (ACCESS Summer Student, currently Ph.D. student at University of Texas, Medical Branch)
2016 Randy Coupet (Visiting Medical Student, currently completing residency in France)