Current Lab Members
Research Assistant Professors
Dr. Joseph Conrad
Joseph, a Research Assistant Professor in Chemistry and Faculty Research Scholar, completed PhD school in Microbiology and Immunology at Vanderbilt in 2011 (CD8+ T cell (dys)function in chronic HIV disease with Dr. Spyros Kalams). Joseph contributes immunology and biomedical research expertise, experience in international and global health, and a background in human subjects research to the group research agenda focused on low resource diagnostics and elimination of infectious, tropical, and neglected diseases. Joseph contributes to diverse projects applying mobile solid phase extraction technology to clinical diagnostics for CD4+ T cell enumeration and biomarker capture and identification for malaria and HIV. Joseph completed post-doctoral research at the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health and with the Vanderbilt-Zambia Network for Innovation in Global Health. In a past life, he was a Rural Aquaculture Project Volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Zambia. Now, he enjoys competing in triathlons with his wife and cycling with his daughters to school.
Dr. Danielle Kimmel
Danielle Kimmel received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from Vanderbilt University in 2012 (dissertation mentor David Cliffel). Her graduate and postdoctoral work focused on in-depth analysis of metabolic flux during oxidative stressor exposure. Using electrochemical biosensors, her work provided further understanding of innate immunological responses in multiple cell types. Contributing her background knowledge regarding electrochemical biosensors and disease onset, Danielle has joined the VZNIGHT (Vanderbilt-Zambia Network for Innovation in Global Health Technologies) program to further their goal for providing low-income, ultra sensitive malarial diagnostics. Outside of science, Danielle enjoys SCUBA diving, going to concerts, and napping. Link to her CV.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Dr. Thomas Scherr
Dr. Lwiindi Mudenda
Graduate Students
Jenny Nesbitt
Jenny grew up in Cincinnati, OH and graduated in 2010 from Wake Forest University with a B.S. in Chemistry and a French minor. She spent a semester studying abroad in Dijon,France – home to lots of mustard and Burgundy wine!! Her undergraduate research under Dr. Abdessadek Lachgar focused on the synthesis of metal organophosphate frameworks for their use as ion-exchange resins, absorbents, catalysts, and more. She is currently working on a biomimetic project, modeling silica formation in sponges and diatoms to develop new ways to control and pattern silica and other metal oxide materials. Outside of lab, she enjoys crossword puzzles, running outside, and traveling.
Anna Bitting
Anna joined the lab in March 2012 and is working on malaria diagnostics, specifically using saliva. She is from the Pittsburgh, PA area (Go Steelers!) and graduated from Allegheny College in May 2011 with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in History. She enjoys craft beer and even brewed her own during her last semester at Allegheny – and got 2 credits for doing so. Aside from being a giant history and beer nerd, she has played the euphonium (Google it) since 10th grade and is a member of the Vanderbilt Community Concert Band. In her spare time, she enjoys reading books about the American Revolution, Harry Potter, and watching The Sound of Music on repeat.
Kim Fong
Kim was born and raised in Lewiston, Idaho with her venture to Tennessee being her first time living outside of the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from Lewis-Clark State College with a B.S. in chemistry and minors in biology and Spanish. As an undergraduate, she did an REU program at Portland State University under Dr. Andrea Goforth where she made silicon nanoparticles for the use of biomedical imaging agents. Currently, she is focused on developing new techniques to classify antimalarial drugs based on their mechanisms of action. In her spare time she enjoys volunteering, cooking, and basking in the great outdoors.
Adam Ryan Travis
Originally from Woodlawn, TN, Adam graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2011 with a B.S. degree in Chemistry and minor in Biology. His undergraduate research focused on the chromatographic isolation of an enzyme known as tadpole erythrocyte ferrireductase. Presently, however, he works on synthesizing bifunctional gold nanoparticles and cell imaging using DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles. When not slaving away in the lab, he enjoys botany, entomology, collecting old books, talking to Kim (see above), and vegetating on the couch.
Westley Bauer
Westley was born in Menomonie, WI. Tragic as that may sound he got his life together and moved to Minnesota by the age of one. He obtained a B.S. in chemistry and a minor in business administration from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Westley joined the lab in 2013 and his current research focus involves using CD4 count as a surrogate biomarker to develop low-resource diagnostic technologies for initial assessment and monitoring therapeutic efficacy of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In his free time he enjoys long walks on the beach, giving high fives, and to be called Milton.
Alexis Wong
Alexis was born and raised in Knoxville, TN. In 2012 she graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from Furman University, where she studied the cellular uptake of chromium(III) tris-diimine complexes under Drs. John and Sandy Wheeler. As an undergraduate, she also worked with Dr. Jim Maher at the Mayo Clinic, where she researched the use of artificial RNA aptamers to inhibit the NF-kappaB transcription factor. Alexis joined the lab in 2013 and her current research is focused on using DNA functionalized gold nanoparticles to develop a diagnostic for human papillomavirus. Outside of lab she enjoys reading, taking pictures, and traveling.
Lauren Gibson
Lauren grew up in Murray, KY and graduated from Murray State University in May 2012 with a B.S. in chemistry and a music minor. Her undergraduate research on the thermal properties of ionic liquids was done under Dr. R. Daniel Johnson. Lauren joined the Wright lab in March 2013 and is working on the discovery of aptamer based molecular recognition elements and the development of low resource diagnostics. In her free time she enjoys running and other outdoor activities, playing the piano and hanging out with family and friends.
Christine Markwalter
Christine was born and raised in Burke, VA. She graduated from Agnes Scott College in 2013 with a B.S. in chemistry and math and a minor in Spanish. As an undergraduate, she researched polymeric materials at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Naval Research Lab (NRL). Currently, her research focuses on the detection of the malarial biomarker Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, cooking, losing racquetball, and winning board games.
Andrew Kantor
Andrew was born and raised in Harrisburg, PA and obtained his B.S. in chemistry at Furman University in the bustling metropolis of Greenville, SC. Under the tutelage of Drs. John and Sandy Wheeler at Furman, he conducted research on the interactions between chromium (III) tris-diimine complexes and DNA following UV light exposure. Andrew joined the Wright lab in the spring of 2015 and hopes to make many valuable contributions to the field of low resource diagnostics. He has an excellent power stance when working at the bench. Outside of the lab, Andrew enjoys playing tennis, watching tennis, going to concerts, and eating.
Visiting Scholars
Cusi Ferradas
Lab Technicians
Kelly Richardson
Undergraduate Students
Matthew Park
