Members of the Adams Lab

Erin Adams

Principal Investigator and Mentor

Erin loves to figure out how things work both in and outside the lab.
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She loves being a mom and living on the South Side. She has been at the University of Chicago since 2005.

ejadams-at-uchicago.edu

Lab Manager

This could be you.

We are currently in search of a Lab Manager!

Do you like to keep things organized? Do you like working with people and engaging with company representatives? Do you love to do science? This position could be for you!

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Please use our contact page to reach out with your interest in this position.

Postdocs/Research Associates

Caitlin Castro

Research Associate

pronouns: she/her
Caitlin is examining the role of CD1d-reactive gamma delta (γδ) T cells in human diseases. She is specifically interested in the prevalence, in vivo significance, and functional characteristics of these cells in colorectal tumors. She is also studying the structure and function of γδ T cell receptors in sharks.
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In her free time Caitlin enjoys reading, playing banjo, and going on long (but not too fast) bike rides.

Kristof Nolan

Research Associate

Kristof is working on understanding how unique NK cell receptors function to recognize unique ligands and MHC-related molecules during homeostasis and in various disease-state pathologies such as cancer. He is working to understand these interactions through biochemical, structural, and cellular-based approaches.
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When Kristof is not in lab, he enjoys practicing Brazilian jiujitsu, playing piano, and spending time with his wife and dog.

Sobhan Roy

Research Associate

Sobhan’s research is focused on classical and non-classical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and their recognition by αβ and γδ T cells. He is using immunological, crystallographic, and biochemical techniques to understand the molecular basis of antigen presentation and its recognition by T cell receptors in the context of pathogenic infection and cancer.
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Besides lab, Sobhan likes to play and watch cricket in his free time, listen to music, read books, watch movies, and try new recipes.

Technicians

Hortencia Graves

Research Assistant

pronouns: she/her
Hortencia helps support the cloning and protein expression parts of the laboratory, using her amazing skills to engineer new constructs and get them expressed.
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Outside of the lab, Hortencia likes to take walks on hiking trails, try new dessert places, check out famous music venues along with attending festivals.

Andrew Kelley

Research Assistant

Andrew is currently focused on engineering and expression of MR1 in different cell lines. He is interested in learning more about immunology, and MR1’s importance in cell signaling.

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Outside of lab, he likes to tend to his house plants, chase his cats, and play D&D.

Graduate Students

Augusta Broughton

Grad Student (COI)

Augusta is interested in studying the role of tissue resident Vδ1 T cells in homeostasis and disease.

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Augusta likes naps, nonfiction, and drumming.

Idongesit Ekpo

Grad Student (BMB)

Idongesit is interested in exploring the MR1-Tcell axis with respect to pathogenic infections. She will focus on identifying the ligands loaded onto MR1 following pathogenic infection and post-vaccination, and the MR1T cell response to these pathogens.
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She loves realistic fiction, strength training and spending time with friends.

Nicole (Cole) Ladd

Grad Student (BMB)

pronouns: she/her
Cole is interested in the mechanism of antigen presentation by the MHC-like molecule MR1 and the structural features governing antigen discrimination by MR1-restricted TCRs
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In her free time, you can find her attending musicals, bouldering, crocheting, and reading.

laddna-at-uchicago.edu

Sofi Maltseva

Visiting Grad Student (Ka Yee Lee Lab, Chem)

Sofi is a member of Prof. Ka Yee Lee’s group in Chemistry. She is interested in identifying lipid parameters that affect recognition of target membranes by alpha-synuclein and the TIM family of proteins.

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In her free time, Sofi enjoys piano, basketball, and painting.

Amrita Ramesh

MSTP Grad Student (BMB)

Amrita is interested in the mechanism by which Vγ9Vδ2 T cells activate in response to malignancy and infection.

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Between experiments, Amrita prefers to always be outside backpacking, picnicking by the lake, or attending music festivals.

Sean Ryan

Grad Student (COI)

Sean spends his time in lab exploring the importance of the MR1-T cell axis and its relevance to certain cancers.

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Outside of lab you can find him rock climbing, exploring restaurants in Chicago, or at home reading a science fiction novel.

Mayuri Viswanathan

MSTP Grad Student (COI)

Mayuri studies the role of γδ T cells in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis. She is particularly interested in characterizing the role of antigen specific brain resident gamma deltas using microscopy and sequencing techniques.

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She loves dogs, books, and sunshine, and spends her free time dancing and riding her bike along the Lakefront Trail.

Undergraduate Researchers

Alejandra Bergquist

Biology

Alejandra is studying the purification and crystallization of shark MHC I-like molecules to determine their structures, functions, and classifications.

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In her spare time, Alejandra adores the presence of her friends and family, exploring different neighborhoods in Chicago, learning about Mexican history, and water coloring by the point. Whenever she goes home to California, surfing with friends and family is her favorite pastime.

Sophia Madejski

Biochemisty

Sophia is studying the biochemistry of the MHC nonclassical protein, HLA-F.

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In her free time, Sophia enjoys reading, playing video games, and doing ceramics

Daisy Ortiz

Biochemisty

Daisy is investigating T cells that recognize the MHC-like protein CD1d.

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Outside of lab, Daisy enjoys watching everything Star Wars related, listening to new alternative-rock or indie-rock artists she finds on Spotify, hiking new spots, and volunteering her time with various organizations. She also loves spending time with family and friends back home in California or here in Chicago.

Lab Mascots

Mia (Mimi) Brottsegen

Capt’n Jack

Finnegan

Bebe

Sabine

Rosalind

Lilith

Waco

Oliver

Dinosaur Master

Frodo

AlanDracula

Xena

Rosie

Pretzel

Lab Alumni

Are you an Adams Lab Alumna or Alumnus and don’t see your name below or your status is out of date? Contact us to check in and give us an update.

Postdoc Alumni

Cara Froyd, PhD (2013-2018), Scientist, Creative Communications and Media
John Leonard, PhD (2014-2018), Senior Scientist, 3T Biosciences
Adrienne Luoma, PhD (2014-2016), Postdoc @ Harvard
Andrew Sandstrom, PhD (2014), Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern
Jacinto Lopez-Sagaseta, PhD (2009-2014), Head, Protein Crystallography, Navarrabiomed
Aparna Palakodeti, PhD (2009-2011), Adjunct Faculty, College of DuPage
Kajal Chourdhary, PhD (2007-2008), Senior Manager, Reproductive Health Strategies, Takara Bio USA, Inc.

Graduate Student Alumni

Philipp Ross (2022)
Ryan Duncombe PhD (2021)
Chris Boughter PhD (2021), Postdoc in the Meier_Schellersheim Lab @ NIH
Marta Borowska PhD (2020), Postdoc in the Garcia Lab @ Stanford
Ramya Parameswaran PhD,MD (2018), MSTP, University of Chicago
May Gu PhD (2018), Postdoc in Handel lab, UC San Diego
Charlie Dulburger, PhD (2017), Postdoc in Rubin lab, Harvard
James Crooks, PhD (2015), Senior Software Engineer, Facebook
Adrienne Luoma, PhD (2014), Postdoc in Wucherpfennig lab, Harvard
Andrew Sandstrom, PhD (2014), Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern
Greg Tietjen, PhD (2013), Assistant Professor, Surgery: Transplant & Immunology, Yale
Caitlyn Yeykal, PhD (2012), Global Project Management at Merck
Louise Scharf, PhD (2010), Scientist II, 23andMe

Masters Alumni

Zuzanna Kotkowska (2017), pursuing PhD at University Hospital Zurich
Wioletta Nawrocka (2015), pursuing PhD at University of Chicago
Agata Oruba (2008), Senior Scientist at Avacta
Filip Golebiowski (2007), Business Analyst, Roche

Undergraduate Alumni

Andrew Peev (2018-2022), MD Student, UPenn
Tala Azzam (2018-2021), PhD Student, Emory University
Daniel Yong (2018-2021), NIH IRTA fellow, Yasmine Belkaid’s Lab
Sam Dubensky (2016-2019), MD-PhD Student, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Natalie Gray (2016-2018), Physics Teacher, Great Hearts Academies
Mary Coomes (2015-2017), Medical student
Ady Steinbach (2014-2017), pursuing PhD at UCSF
Victor Liu (2012-2014), pursuing Medical degree at University of Texas Houston
Carissa Lim (2013-2015)
Joel Siegel (2012-2013)
Irvin Ho (2011-2012)
Jennifer Kung (2010-2012), Postdoc at Genetech
Lakshmi Sundaresan (2010-2012), Resident, Rush University Medical School
Allison Kazen (Thoburn) (2006-2010), MD, Geriatric Medicine
Steve Mudroch (2009-2010), MD, Internal Medicine
Allison Roberts (2006-2008), Postdoc, Cox Lab UCBerkeley
Wesley Jun (2006-2007), Product Transfer Scientist @ Cepheid

Undergraduate Research Visiting Summer Student Alumni

Tianyang Mao (Summer 2016)
Leah Sibener (Summer 2010)
Sneha Shah (Summer 2009)
Heather Lavezzi (Summer 2008)
Valentina Dimitrova (Summer 2008)
John Haughner (Summer 2007)
Hoa B Nguyen (Summer 2006)

University of Chicago Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) Alumni

Natassia Buckridge (2015)
Gabrielle McRae (2011)

Lab Manager Alumni

Sophie Kranke (2017-2022) Biochemistry Research Associate at Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research
Leslie Bembinster (2013-2016) Model, Scientist, Model-Scientist, Very Cool-Person. See her Interview article
Chelsea Parks (2011-2013) Executive Chef at National Instruments, Austin