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Volker Briken, Professor: I received my undergraduate degree (Diplom Biologe) from the University of Konstanz (Germany) and my Ph.D. from the University of Paris (France). After a postdoc at Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA) and AECOM (Bronx, NY), I started my own lab as an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland in 2004.
Shivangi Rastogi, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate: I received my Bachelor of Science degree and my Master’s degree in Biochemistry from University of Lucknow (India) and my Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology in 2017 from CSIR-CDRI (India). I joined Briken’s lab in 2017. Currently, my research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in inflammasome inhibition by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and further identifying virulent Mtb gene(s) important for facilitating suppression of host cell inflammasome activation.
Jacques Augenstreich, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate: I obtained a bachelor degree in 2012 in “Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Genetics” and in 2014 a Master’s degree in “Research and Engineering in Bio-Health (Cellular and Molecular Biology)" at the University of Poitiers (France). I received my Ph.D. in 2018 in Microbiology at the University of Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (France). I joined Volker Briken’s lab at the end of 2018 and I am currently working on the molecular mechanisms behind the macrophages cell death induction during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.
Mike Shuster, B.S., PhD Candidate: I obtained my undergraduate degrees, B.S. in Biotechnology and Minor in Microbiology, from Penn State University (State College, PA) in 2017. I joined the Briken Lab in early-2019 in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. My current research is focused on understanding the inhibition of interferon signaling by Mtb and, in a collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, reversing drug abuse via molecular containers (host-guest chemistry).
Guanchao Ding, B.S., PhD Candidate: I received my Bachelor of Science Degree from the Department of Biological Sciences of University of Science and Technology of China in 2018. I joined the Briken Lab in early-2020 in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. My project is focused on delineating how Mtb induces cell death during infection and how different cell death executors are connected by host signaling pathways.
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Shannon Smith, M.M., B.M. Research Laboratory Technician: I received my Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance from Wheaton College (IL) in 2010 and my Master of Music in Vocal Performance from The Boston Conservatory of Music in 2012. After a major career shift in 2016, I've now completed the Science in the Evening program at the University of Maryland College Park. During my studies, I began working at Integrated Cellular and Molecular Diagnostics, a clinical pathology laboratory, eventually earning the title of Chief Operating Officer. Shifting my focus from clinical work to research, I am thrilled to have joined the Briken lab in 2021 and am currently assisting with several projects involving inflammasome inhibition by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Shrestha Mathur, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Research Associate: I received my Bachelor of Science degree and my master’s degree in Microbiology from Bangalore University (India) and my Ph.D. in Biochemical, Cell & Molecular Biology (Microbiology) in May 2021 from Binghamton University (Binghamton, NY). I joined the Briken lab in September 2021. Currently, my research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in AIM2 inflammasome inhibition by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).
Akshaya Ganesh, B.S., PhD Student: I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Bioengineering from the University of Maryland. After working in vaccine research for two years, I returned to UMD to pursue a PhD. I joined the Briken lab in March 2022. Currently, I'm working on projects related to the interaction of Mtb with the host cell inflammasome.
Molecular Mechanisms of Mtb-host cell interactions.
Briken Lab
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