Lab Members
Pictured (from left to right)
Front row: Charlie Larson, Sophia Pacheco, Mike Konkel, Tri Duong
Back row: Jeffrey Christensen, Jason Neal-McKinney, Phil Mixter, Daelynn Buelow, Becky Flanagan, Kari Shoaf-Sweeney
Not Pictured: Lindsay Croft, Darcy Duong, Travis Ruff, Kristen Sukraw
Konkel Lab Members:
Mike Konkel: I graduated from Colorado State University with a BS degree in microbiology, from San Diego State University with a MS degree in microbiology, and from the University of Arizona in microbiology with a PhD. Prior to joining the faculty at WSU, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories (Intramural Research Training Award, National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, MT). I enjoy running, fishing, camping, skiing, and golf.
Phil Mixter: I graduated with a BS degree in Biochemistry-Biophysics from Oregon State University, worked at a small biotech company for several years, then went on to earn a PhD in microbiology and Immunology from UCLA School of Medicine. I did a post-doctoral fellowship at the Vermont College of Medicine before coming to Pullman. After years as an assistant professor collaborating with Dr. Konkel, I become an instructor teaching both immunology and microbiology, dabbling in the lab as time allows. Outside the lab, I like to take advantage of Pullman’s four seasons by gardening, canoeing, restoring old vehicles, camping, church activities, do-it-yourself home construction projects and skiing.
Jeffrey E. Christensen: I received my BS and PhD in Bacteriology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I have several years of industry experience in biopharmaceutical analysis and I was a postdoctoral fellow at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation (Marshfield, Wisconsin) and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (Denver, Colorado) before taking my current postdoctoral position in Dr. Konkel’s laboratory. I enjoy backpacking, bicycling, beekeeping, bowhunting, photography, snowshoeing, cooking, and good wine.
Kari Shoaf-Sweeney: I graduated from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas with a dual BS degree in animal science and food science and technology, and from the University of Nebraska with a PhD in food science and technology with an emphasis in food microbiology. I am currently a postdoctoral research associate in Dr. Konkel’s lab here at WSU. I enjoy fishing and hiking with my dog Dixie.
Daelynn Buelow: I received my BS in Honors Molecular Genetics in 2002 and my PhD in Microbiology and Biotechnology in 2007 from the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). During my PhD I studied two-component signal transduction in Escherichia coli. How bacteria sense and respond to their environment is still a major interest of mine today. In my down time, I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, running and pretty much any winter sport including ice hockey.
Tri Duong: I graduated with a BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State. During my time at Penn State I was a research intern at McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals and the Wistar Institute. I recently graduated from North Carolina State with a PhD in Functional Genomics. I enjoy running, cycling, and watching college sports.
Sophia Pacheco: I graduated with a BS in microbiology in 2002 from Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA). I am a PhD candidate in the School of Molecular Biosciences, Department of Microbiology, WSU, aiming at a career as a research investigator. On leisure time, I enjoy camping, playing soccer, watching Seattle Seahawks football games, and taste-testing microbrews. Yum!
Charlie Larson: I received my BA degree in chemistry from Whitman College and became interested in mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis while studying Burkholderia cepacia during my senior year internship. Prior to enrolling in the PhD program at WSU, I taught high school physics and chemistry in Cairo, Egypt and traveled in Europe, Africa, and Mexico. For fun I like to spend time outdoors (hike, fish, ski), listen to music, travel, and eat good food.
Becky Flanagan: I graduated from Washington State University with a BS degree in microbiology and a second BS in biochemistry. I also have a minor in history. Before beginning my graduate work I worked for the Pullman USDA - Agricultural Research Service for a year as a research technician. I enjoy running, bicycling, reading and cooking.
Jason Neal-McKinney: I graduated from Oregon State University in 2003, where I majored in microbiology and did research on Agrobacterium. I am now working on my PhD in microbiology at Washington State University. I enjoy camping, snowboarding, swimming, and paintballing.
Lindsay Croft: I am a sophomore majoring in microbiology at WSU. I also enjoy riding and training horses as well as curling up with a good book.
Travis Ruff: I am a senior at WSU, double majoring in biotechnology and microbiology. I enjoy golf, softball, baseball, and football.