Meet the Team!
Marta Garcia-Contreras, MSc, Ph.D.
Program: Postdoctoral Fellow, JHU Diversity Postdoctoral Alliance Committee Co-Chair
Research Interests: Understanding the secretome, specifically extracellular vesicles in the context of metabolic diseases
Degrees: B.S. Biotechnology , Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain MSc Biomedical Biotechnology, Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain International PhD Catholic University of Valencia, Spain (via University of Miami, FL), Cum Laude (Outstanding Doctorate Award)
Hometown: Valencia, Spain
Email: mgarci90@jhmi.edu
Favorite Baltimore Venues: Mount Vernon, Bolton Hill
Chenxu “Vincent” Guo, Ph.D.
Program: Biological Chemistry Ph.D.
Research Interests: Genetic Engineering of Cells and Exosomes, SARS-CoV-2, HIV, Cancer Immunology
Degrees: B.A., B.S., Ph.D.
Hometown: Guangzhou, China
Email: chenxug@cui.edu
Hobbies: Playing basketball, watching movies, traveling, and taking vacations to do all of the above.
Yiwei Ai, M.D.
Program: Graduate Program in Biological Chemistry (GPBC)
Previous Institution: M.D. Harbin Medical University
Hometown: Harbin, China
Email: yiwei.ai@jhu.edu
Favorite scientist: Vivien Thomas
Yijing Gong
Program: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Research Interests: To develop synthetic cell signaling pathway as a new platform for treating chronic pain, and also as a research tool for studying complex signaling pathways.
Degrees & Institutions: B.S. with honors (Class 1), University of Liverpool, 2019 ScM, Johns Hopkins University, 2021
Hometown: Nanjing, China
Email: ygong18@jhmi.edu
Favorite Baltimore Venues: Every place with a lot of trees
Laura Mendez-Pinto
Program: Graduate Program in Biological Chemistry (GPBC)
Research Interests: Exosome engineering, cell biology, protein engineering
Degrees & Institutions: B.S. in Biochemistry, Hofstra University , 2022
Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
Email: lsanch31@jhmi.edu
Favorite Baltimore Venues: Federal Hill Park, Lucky’s Ice Cream, National Aquarium
Austin Dabbs
Program: Biological Chemistry Ph.D.
Research Interests: Protein engineering, protein kinase activity sensing, pathological pain signaling.
Degrees & Institutions: Chemistry B.S. & Interdisciplinary Studies B.S., Salisbury University
Hometown: Clarksville, Maryland
Email: Adabbs2@jh.edu
Favorite Baltimore Venues: Clavel, Koco food Truck, the Gould lab espresso machiene
Lareina Alvarez
Program: Basic Science Institute Summer Research Program
Research Interests: I’d like to learn more about the neurobiology of disease, pathobiology, as well as cellular biology since these subjects have great potential of being translational within the field of medicine!
Anticipated Degrees: B.S. Biology, University of Colorado Denver
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Email: lareina.alvarez@ucdenver.edu
Favorite Baltimore Venues: Inner Harbor, Franchesca’s Empanada Cafe, Pupuseria Mama Tana