NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Department of Microbiology
Team
Torres
Principal Investigator
C.V. Starr Professor of Microbiology
Director, Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program
KEY INTERESTS:
Staphylococcus aureus, AMR pathogens, pathogenesis, immune response to infection, polymicrobial infections, system biology of host-pathogen interactions, in vivo models of infection, macrophages, neutrophils, pore-forming toxins, toxin-cell interaction, regulation of virulence factors
Hometown: Rincón, Puerto Rico
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Fun Fact: I love the beach
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Víctor J. Torres
HONORS, ACADEMIC AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
1998-2000
NIH-NIGMS: Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC) Scholar
1999
NSF-Summer Research Training Program (University of Iowa)
1999/2003
Hispanic Scholarship Fellow
2003
American Society for Microbiology Corporate Partner Travel Grant Award
2003-2004
NIH-NIGMS: Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Predoctoral Fellowship
2005
Pre-doctoral Sidney P. Colowick Award (Outstanding research achievements in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
2006-2008
NIH-NIAID: Individual Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Postdoctoral Fellowship
2006 & 2008
Collier Award for Outstanding Research at the Gordon Conference on Microbial Toxins and Pathogenicity (Proctor Academy in Andover, NH)
2007
Post-doctoral Sidney P. Colowick Award (Outstanding research achievements in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology; Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
2007
Best Research Award at the Gordon Conference on Staphylococcal Diseases (Les Diablerets, Switzerland)
2008
Levi Watkins Jr., Student Award for Contributions in fostering opportunities for under-represented minorities in education and research (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine)
2009
NIH-NIAID: Research scholar development award (K22)
2009
American Heart Association National Scientist Development Grant
2014
Burroughs Wellcome Fund: Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Diseases
2015-2017
The Dean’s List, recognition for exceptional research contributions to NYU Langone Medical center
2016
NYU SoM NextGen Stars lecture
2018
Irma T. Hirschl Career Scientist Award
2018
NYU Langone Outstanding Postdoc Mentor Award
2019
C.V. Starr Endowed Professorship
2021
Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology
MacArthur Fellow
EDUCATION
1995−2000
Bachelor of Sciences: Concentration in Industrial Microbiology
University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez campus, Mayagüez, PR, U.S.A.
Mentor: Mildred Chaparro, Ph.D.
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2000−2004
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD): Microbiology and Immunology
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine,Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Mentor: Timothy L. Cover, M.D.
2005
Postdoctoral Fellow: Division of Infectious Diseases
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Mentor: Timothy L. Cover, M.D.
2006−2008
Postdoctoral Fellow: Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, U.S.A.
Mentor: Eric P. Skaar, Ph.D.
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ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
2008: Assistant Professor of Microbiology
2014: Associate Professor of Microbiology
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2019: C.V. Starr Associate Professor of Microbiology
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2020: C.V. Starr Professor of Microbiology
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2021: Director, Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens Program
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Exene Anderson
Graduate Student
Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Education:
B.S. - Microbiology and Molecular and Cellular Biology - University of Arizona
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Project: I'm studying the expression of S. aureus leukotoxins in various organs during infection and how those genes are regulated.
Fun Fact: I was named after a punk rock singer
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Ashley DuMont
Senior Research Scientist
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
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Education:
B.S. - Biology - Denison University
Ph.D. - Microbiology - New York University
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Project: I am working on developing a vaccine against S. aureus infections and I study the pathogenesis of multi-drug resistant bacteria.
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Fun Fact: My artwork has been on the cover of Trends in Microbiology twice.
Krystal Ching
Graduate Student
Hometown: Alameda, CA
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Education:
B.A. - Molecular and Cellular Biology, Immunology - University of California, Berkeley
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Project: Mechanisms of exosome secretion in response to infection.
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Fun Fact: I love playing ultimate frisbee!
Juliana Ilmain
Graduate Student
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
Education:
B.S. - Biology - Purdue University
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Project: I am studying the structure-function relationship of LukAB toxin diversity.
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Fun Fact: My nails are always painted.
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Keenan Lacey
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Education:
B.A. - Microbiology - Trinity College Dublin.
Ph.D. - Immunology - Trinity College Dublin.
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Project: I work on the host-pathogen interactions occurring during nosocomial MRSA pneumonia infections.
Fun Fact: My grandfather was also a microbiologist and worked at the Guinness factory.
Anna O'Keeffe
Research Associate
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Education:
B.S. - Pharmacology - University College Dublin
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Project: I am working on developing new vaccines against S. aureus infections.
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Fun Fact: I love open-water swimming.
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Andrew Perault
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Big Sur, CA / Ann Arbor, MI
Education:
B.S. - Microbiology - University of Michigan
MPH - Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology - University of Michigan
Ph.D. - Microbiology and Immunology - University of North Carolina
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Project: I am studying virulence mechanisms used by the multi-drug resistant pathogen Enterobacter cloacae.
Fun Fact: When I was a kid, the Dalai Lama gave me a stress ball as a gift (should I read into that?).
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Rachel Prescott
Graduate Student
Hometown: Hampden, ME
Education:
B.S. - Biochemistry - Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Project: I study the interactions between Staphylococcus bacteria and Influenza viruses in a co-infection model.
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Fun Fact: I played the tuba in the WPI Marching Band! Go Tech!
Francesca Serraino
Research Associate
Hometown: Yonkers, NY
Education:
B.S. - Biology - Stony Brook University
Project: : I am working on developing new vaccines against S. aureus infections.
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Fun Fact: I love to play the piano, and I was in an acapella group called the Pipettes!
Amelia St John
Research Associate
Hometown: Scarborough, ME
Education:
B.S. - Microbiology - University of Maine
Project: I am studying virulence mechanisms used by the multi-drug resistant pathogen Enterobacter cloacae.
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Fun Fact: I was on an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos.
Chunyi Zhou
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Xinyang, Henan, China
Education:
M.D. - Clinical Medicine - Xinxiang Medical University
Ph.D. - Microbiology - University of Nebraska Medical Center
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Project: I am working on the study of gastrointestinal tract colonization of CA-MRSA.
Fun Fact: My hometown is famous for Xinyang Maojian tea.
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Daiane Boff
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Education:
B.S. - Biomedicine - IESA
M.S. - Biochemistry and immunology - Federal university of Minas Gerais
PhD - Immunology - Federal University of Minas Gerais
PhD - Microbiology and immunology - Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
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Project: I am studying how S. aureus leukotoxins can target endothelial cells during infection.
Fun Fact: I love American football
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Juan Gago
Graduate Student
Hometown: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Education:
M.D. - University of Buenos Aires
M.P.H. - City University of New York Graduate School of Public Health
Project: I am working on analyzing clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with COVID-19 and sepsis.
Fun Fact: I traveled the Amazonian jungle by boat.
Sandra Gonzalez
Assistant Research Scientist
Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
Education:
B.S. Microbiology - Universidad De Los Andes - Bogotá, Colombia
M.S. Microbiology - Universidad De Los Andes - Bogotá, Colombia
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Project: I work on the host-pathogen interactions occurring during nosocomial MRSA pneumonia infections.
Fun Fact: I like to dance salsa and cumbia.
Rachel Kratofil
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Victoria, Canada
Education:
B.S. - Biochemistry - University of Victoria
Ph.D. - Immunology - University of Calgary
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Project: I am studying S. aureus pathogenesis and wound healing.
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Fun Fact: Fueled by coffee and often found at a rock-climbing gym.
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Katerine Le
Research Fellow, Infectious Diseases
Hometown: Long Beach, CA
Education:
B.A. - Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – University of California, Berkeley
M.D. – Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Residency – Internal Medicine, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education
Fellowship – Infectious Diseases, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
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Project: I am studying S. aureus infections of the spine
Fun Fact: I enjoy collecting and caring for orchids
Janet Olivas
Graduate Student
Hometown: Cd Juárez, Mexico / El Paso, Texas
Education:
B.S. - Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, University of Texas at El Paso
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Project: I am working to understand the role of LukAB in S. aureus infection.
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Fun Fact: I have a cosmetology license
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Adam Pickrum
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Education:
B.S. - Microbiology - Grand Valley State University
Ph.D. - Microbiology and Immunology - Medical College of Wisconsin
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Project: I am studying virulence mechanisms utilized by MRSA isolates during nosocomial infections.
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Fun Fact: As a midwesterner, I enjoy the challenge of running in frigid cold temperatures.
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Avital Savin
Master's Student
Hometown: Athens, OH
Education:
B.S. - Biological Sciences - Ohio University
Project: : I am studying regulation of virulence factors, specifically leukotoxins, in S. aureus.
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Fun Fact: I really love to travel. So far I have visited 17 countries and I can't wait to visit more.
Julia Sproch
Graduate Student
Hometown: Carlisle, PA
Education:
B.S. - Biology - La Salle University
Project: : I am working on leukotoxin-receptor during S. aureus infection.
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Fun Fact: My family owns a microbrewery so I know a lot about beer!
Robert Ulrich
Instructor, Department of Medicine
Hometown: Commerce Twp, MI
Education:
B.S. - Human Biology, Health and Society - Cornell University
M.D. - Medicine - NYU School of Medicine
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Project: I am studying the mechanisms of prophage-mediated virulence driving community-acquired MRSA contagion.
Fun Fact: I briefly toured as a drummer in an indie rock band.
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Erin Zwack
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hometown: Oxford, CT
Education:
B.S. - Biology with a concentration in Genomics - Davidson College
Ph.D. - Cellular and Molecular Biology - University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Project: Defining the toxin-dependent and toxin-independent S. aureus response of primary human phagocytes.
Fun Fact: Completed an 8-day, 100-mile hike in the Adirondacks.
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Past Lab Members
Sophie Dyzenhaus - Graduate Student & Postdoctoral Fellow (2016-2022)
Miranda Pawline - Research Associate (2020-2022)
Sofya Perelman, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2018-2021)
Xuhui Zheng, PhD - Graduate Student (2016-2021)
Joseph Cooper Devlin, PhD - Graduate Student (2018-2021)
Matthew Keller, PhD - Graduate Student (2014-2020)
Will Sause, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2020)
Leena Kader - Research Associate (2018-2020)
Christa Emanuel - Administrative Assistant (2017-2020)
Kayan Tam, PhD - Graduate Student (2013-2020)
Kristina Boguslawski, PhD - MSTP student (2015-2019)
Irnov Irnov, PhD - Associate Research Scientist (2017-2019)
Rita Chan - Research Associate (2013-2019)
Marilyn Vasquez - SURP 2015, Research Associate (2016-2019)
Bianca Dunn - Research Associate (2017-2019)
Michael Lesser, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2018)
Ashira Lubkin, PhD - MSTP student (2014-2019); Postdoctoral Fellow (2020-2021)
Alexis Sommerfield - Research Associate (2015-2018)
Evelien Berends, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2015-2018)
Lamia Harper, PhD - Graduate Student (2014-2018)
Aidan O'Malley - Research Associate (2013-2017)
David James, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2013-2017)
Divya Balasubramanian, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2014-2017)
Pauline Yoong, PhD - Associate Research Scientist (2011- 2015)
Elizabeth Ohneck, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2013-2015)
Tamara Reyes-Robles, PhD - Graduate Student (2011-2015)
Francis Alonzo, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2011-2014)
Ashley DuMont, PhD - Graduate Student (2009-2013)
Meredith Benson, PhD - Graduate Student (2009-2013)
Amanda Smith - Research Associate (2009-2011)
Sarit Lilo, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2009-2010)
Kevin Fabrizio, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow (2009-2010)