The UAB Department of Microbiology hosted the 31st Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat Nov. 21-23 at Joe Wheeler State Park. The event represents a decades-long tradition bringing together faculty, staff, postdoctoral fellows, and alumni for a weekend showcasing the best of the department’s research.
“This Microbiology Department Retreat was made special by the presence of Dr. Cassell," said J. Victor Garcia-Martinez, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UAB Department of Microbiology. "Having her with us this weekend was truly a gift—her legacy continues to shape how we learn, mentor, and discover. Dr. Cassell’s career is distinguished by pioneering work on pathogenesis and antimicrobial resistance, and her tenure as chair of the Department of Microbiology at UAB marked a period of transformative growth. This retreat reflects her commitment to scientific dialogue and mentorship. Over three decades, it has become a cornerstone where ideas are exchanged, discoveries are shared, and future collaborations are born.”
With 18 posters and 19 oral presentations, the retreat highlighted the high caliber of scientific study happening within the Department of Microbiology. In addition, the 31st retreat welcomed Distinguished Alumnus Speaker Noberto Gonzalez Juarbe, Ph.D., who is now an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland.
"We all offer a big, heartfelt thank-you to Norberto, our Distinguished Alumnus Speaker, for a talk that reminded us—so brilliantly—why curiosity paired with rigor changes lives,” Garcia said.
Charles Turnbough, Ph.D., professor emertius in the Department of Microbiology and attendee of this year's retreat, reflected on the trainee presentations.
“I think the retreat offered an opportunity for our trainees to demonstrate the high quality of their research and their enthusiasm for science,” Turnbough said. “They certainly rose to the occasion and made everyone proud to be part of this department.”
For Darren Ty, M.S., who is a Ph.D. student in the Garcia/Wahl Lab, this year’s retreat marked his second time attending—last year as a rotating student, and this year as a full member of the lab.
“I love getting to see the work of colleagues across the department and the strong sense of community the retreat fosters,” Ty said. “A highlight of this year’s 31st Gail Cassell Microbiology Research Retreat was getting to meet Dr. Gail Cassell herself. And of course, The Payline—Dr. Harrod’s and Dr. Dokland’s band gave a fantastic performance!”
Ty, who won second place in the New Investigator category for poster presentations, said he would encourage others to attend the retreat in the future.
“The retreat is a great opportunity to not only discuss science and advance our work, but also to connect, network, and enjoy each other’s company in a beautiful setting.”
The full list of 2025 poster and oral presentation winners is as follows:
Poster
New Investigator
Sarah Perritt
Thapsigargin-Induced ER Stress Alters Cell Fate Dynamics in Human Bronchial Epithelium
Darren Ty
Intracerebral inoculation of HIV results in disseminated systemic infection in humanized mice
Postdoctoral Fellow
Vipin Chembilikandy, Ph.D.
iPSC-derived cardiac tissue chips as a model for studying cardiac responses to bacterial infection
Ritesh Sevalkar, Ph.D.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis encodes a sulfide quinone oxidoreductase that oxidizes hydrogen sulfide and feeds electrons into the electron transport chain
Other
Mohammed Rahman, Ph.D.
A spatial atlas of Mycobacterium tuberculosis mRNA and antigens in human tissues: Insights into TB pathology and dissemination
Manse Kim, Ph.D.
Development of long-acting formulation delivering novel anti-TB drug, Pretomanid, to improve drug adherence for tuberculosis infection
Oral
New Investigator
Brooke Bengert
Endoplasmic reticulum-anchored nonstructural proteins drive human astrovirus replication organelle formation
Emma Matthews
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection Disrupts Lysosomal Homeostasis in the Cystic Fibrosis Bronchial Epithelium
Jessie Fields
Structure and Function of Burkholderia cepacian Complex Pili Associated with Severe Infection in Cystic Fibrosis
Graduate Student
Krishna Chinta
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection induces glucose-dependent immunometabolic changes in human neutrophils
Courtney Barkley
a-Tocopherol succinate derivatives inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 replicase proteins nsp7 and nsp8
Samaneh Mehri
Determinants Governing Protease Cleavage Specificity within the Astrovirus Polyprotein
Postdoctoral Fellow
Avraneel Paul, Ph.D.
Outer Membrane Lipid Translocation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Rashmi Ravindran Nair, Ph.D.
Secretion machinery of virulence proteins in Mycobacterium tuberculosis