I graduated from Tennessee Technological University in 2015 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. As an undergraduate, my research project focused on engineered phage display systems for the discovery of affinity reagents. Before joining the graduate program, I worked at Vanderbilt with Dr. Borden Lacy to screen for receptors that mediate Clostridium difficile toxin A binding and entry. Additionally, we used phage display panning to identify antibody fragments that target various toxin epitopes. In the Lau lab, I am largely interested in using experimental and computational approaches to investigate the complex interactions among intestinal epithelial cells, immune cells, and microbes in the context of inflammatory bowel disease. Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family and being outdoors. Vanderbilt Prize Student Scholar. Dean’s Award for Exceptional Achievement. AbbVie Immunology Scholarship. Provost’s Pathbreaking Discovery Award. VI4 Graduate Student Trainee Award. Funded by F31DK127687 and T32HD007502.