Lyu Lab Members

Staff

Abigail O’Brien – Research Technician

My research background ranges from fermentation & distillation, aquatic biology with water quality testing, molecular biology, animal physiology, and microbiology. My research interests include cyanobacteria, diatoms, microbiomes, quorum sensing, and astro microbiology. In the Lyu lab, I will not only continue to practice my previous research skills but grow as a scientist and explore more sides of microbiology including both archaea and bacteria. I look forward to the collaboration, laughs, and achievements we will have in our lab.

Graduate and Doctoral Students

Dexter Boldog – Ph.D. Student

I am a Ph.D. student in the microbiology department under advisement of Dr. Zhe Lyu. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry in 2021. During my undergraduate time I performed research in the Blackledge Lab investigating small-molecule antibiotic adjuvants as potential therapeutics to disrupt antibiotic resistance in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). After graduation I worked in the biopharmaceutical industry in the quality control field at Medicago and the analytical development field at Kriya Therapeutics. In the Lyu lab my research focuses on gut associated methanogens, their physiology and role in shaping the gut microbiome and metabolome, and how this impacts human health. I am excited to be working with the talented researchers in the Lyu lab and look forward to the work we produce.

Carla Sanchez – Ph.D. Student

I​ am a Ph.D. student in the microbiology ​program advised by Dr. Zhe Lyu. ​I have a chemistry background but my previous work​ at Baylor College of Medicine introduced me to the world of microbiology, isolating ​​microbial strains from a variety of sources including human gut​ tissues, fecal samples, eye swabs, etc using various techniques. I hope to expand on what I learned there and use it in understanding the significance of methanogens in human health and disease, their relationships with commensal bacteria and pathogenic bacteria, as well as their physiology and molecular mechanisms in the GI tract. I am so excited to be a part of a great team with the Lyu lab and can’t wait to see where we go.

Kairi Tanaka – Ph.D. Student

I am a Ph.D. student in the fascinating fields of microbiology and animal science, co-advised by Drs. Zhe Lyu and Vivek Fellner. Combining both fields, my research focuses on the physiology of methanogens in the ruminal microbiome and mechanism of anaerobic fermentation in the
rumen, providing insights into mitigation of methane production from ruminant livestock and improving feed efficiency. The rumen has been an intriguing subject to study because of its complex microbial composition and interaction among bacteria, archaea, fungi, and protozoa that directly affect the health and performance of the host animal. I am thrilled to embark on this interdisciplinary journey with Drs. Lyu and Fellner and their excellent lab teams.

Undergraduate Students

Anna Miller

I am an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology with a minor in Biotechnology. My research interests involve genomic sequencing and annotation, protein expression through plasmid editing, and microscopy techniques. I have previously worked on projects using nematode models to test compound toxicity as well as whole genome sequencing and analysis on soil microbes. In Lyu Lab, I will continue to improve my microscopy and microbiological lab skills, as well as investigate host-archaea interactions.

Alumni

• Emily Sontag, 2023-25, B.S. Genetics and Microbiology (Minor)