Raj completed his PhD from Gluck Equine Research Center at University of Kentucky. During his graduate study he trained with Dr. Dan Howe and his research was focused on the protozoan parasite Sarcocystis neurona that causes Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM) in horses.
He later did his postdoctoral work with Dr. Vern Carruthers (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor) and Dr. Gustavo Arrizabalaga (Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis). During his postdoctoral studies, Raj studied Toxoplasma gondii, another protozoan parasite of medical and veterinary importance. Raj is currently working as an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology at Virginia Tech and his lab's research is focused on studying the role of TKL family kinases in Toxoplasma biology.
Dima is a graduate student in the lab. Dima completed her Masters degree from American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Padmaja is a graduate student in the lab. Padmaja obtained her Masters degree from India.
Sam is a sophomore microbiology major at Virginia Tech and is currently working as our Lab Assistant.
Alumni
Kyla Simmons - Undergraduate Research Student - Spring 2022
Jen Nguyen - Undergraduate Research Student - Spring 2023