Nice to meet you! My name is Lauren Gansereit. Originally, I'm from Riverside California where I spent my whole life before heading off to college in Tennessee. I lived in Tennessee for six years - first as an undergraduate student at the University of Tennessee at Martin, then working as a research assistant at Vanderbilt University - before moving here to Texas to start my PhD in the Biochemistry Department at UTMB. I'm the first graduate student in Dr. Li-av Segev Zarko's lab where we research Apicomplexan biology by investigating the invasion machinery of the parasite Toxoplasama gondii.
My interest in research took off when I realized how much I enjoy asking detailed, biological questions, especially around infectious diseases. I've spent several years exploring a variety of research areas: bacteriophage, insecticides, muscular dystrophy, Measles Virus, and others. Throughout my journey thus far, one thing has stuck with me through it all - a fascination with electron microscopy. I got my first taste of electron microscopy (EM) while imaging bacteriophage using transmission EM as an undergrad for Dr. Michael Kempf's lab. My interest deepened when I worked with Dr. William Wan's lab at Vanderbilt University where we used cryogenic electron tomography to study the ultrastructure of mononegaviruses. Now, I'm excited to bring that passion to the world of parasitology here at UTMB!
Outside of the lab, my roommates and I host Catan game nights and BBQ socials at my house. I also love spending time with my friends and community from church. A fun fact about me: I've successfully sold my artwork - but I like science as a career much more.
Looking ahead, I like the idea of working at an academic university's EM Core Facility - but I'm open to where the science takes me!
