Tim Miyashiro, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
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Research Techs
Andrew Cecere
Joined Summer 2013
Andrew acquired his BS in Environmental Resource Management from Penn State University in 2013. After his research of the coral-algae symbiosis as an undergraduate, he joined the Miyashiro lab to study the squid-vibrio symbiosis. Aside from playing an active role in research (T6SS project), Andrew also oversees the lab’s aquarium facility that house live squid, trains incoming undergraduate researchers, and attends to all other lab matters. Outside the lab, Andrew takes an interest in aquaria, scientific scuba diving, and is a youth leader at his local church.
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Harun Aslan
Joined Summer 2024
Harun received his master’s in health sciences from Türkiye. He has experience working with C. Catfish and mice in Mississippi State University. His responsibilities are handling squid facility and supporting research experiments. He enjoys working with animals, outdoor sports (orienteering, climbing) and watching Sci-Fi Series.
Graduate Researchers
Josue Ceron
Josue acquired his BS in Microbiology from San Francisco State University in San Francisco, CA. Josue joined the Penn State Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology Graduate Program where he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology. His current work focuses on investigating oxidative stress in microbial symbionts. Outside of lab, Josue enjoys cooking new recipes, tabletop games and watching “bad” movies.
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Ed Provencher
Ed completed his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Richmond in Richmond, VA in 2019. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology. He joined the Miyashiro Lab in the Spring of 2021 and works on the evolution of quorum sensing. Outside of lab, Ed enjoys motorsports, driving with the Penn State Car Club, video games, and traveling.
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Chris Muriel Mundo
My name is Chris Muriel Mundo I am from Puerto Rico. I am currently a Second Year Student of the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Biology (BMMB). I earned my bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a minor in Marketing at the Ana G. Méndez University, Carolina Campus, in Puerto Rico. I then earned a post-baccalaureate one-year term program by the NIH at the University of Massachusetts- Amherst. Now, with the opportunity to work with Dr. Miyashiro, I am under the development in understanding the bacterial enhancer-binding proteins (bEBP’s) dependent on factors (sigma 54) on the symbiont Vibrio fischeri. Besides, I am enjoying Penn State’s outdoor activities and getting to know my areas better.
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Shah Imran Hossain is a master’s student in Biotechnology at Penn State University. He holds a B.Sc. in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Following his undergraduate studies, he joined the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), the world’s largest diarrheal research institute, as a research intern, where he focused on enteric infections, gut microbiota, and metagenomics. Currently, Shah is a graduate research student in Dr. Miyashiro’s lab, conducting research on various squid- related experiments, including SD50 assays, bacterial strain localization in tri-colonization, dissection, and imaging. Outside of his academic and research pursuits, Shah is passionate about filmmaking, exploring new places, meeting new people, and collecting antiques.
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Nate FloresJoined Fall 2023
Nate is pursuing an B.S. in Biotechnology at Penn State. He joined the Miyashrio Lab in Fall 2023, where he currently investigates the T6SS-mediated interactions among Vibrio fischeri. Outside of the lab, Nate enjoys martial arts, working with the Penn State Martial Arts Group, as well as swimming and climbing.
Joined Fall 2023
My name is Catelyn and I am currently working on completing a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology here at Penn State. I have been a part of the Miyashiro Lab since Fall of 2023 and I primarily focus on intrastrain competition of V. fischeri. Outside of the lab I enjoy running and hiking, as well as working as a CNA.
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Joined Fall 2023
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Yusuf Shabana
Joined Fall 2023
Yusuf is pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State. He joined the Miyashiro Lab in Fall 2023 and currently investigates the Type VI Secretion System and its role in Vibrio fischeri interactions. Outside the lab, he enjoys traveling, reading, and outdoor water activities.
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Katie ScottJoined Fall 2024
Katie is pursuing a B.S. in Microbiology at Penn State. She joined the Miyashiro lab in Fall 2024 and is studying the symbiotic capacities of different strains of V. fischeri. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing the flute, watching bad comedy movies, and crocheting.
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Jaedon Burkhart
Joined Fall 2024
I am pursuing a B.S. in Biotechnology at Penn State. I am studying the colonization of different strains of V. fischeri. Outside of the lab I like to listen to music, play sports, and I am heavily involved in THON.
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Alumni
Former Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr. Yan Sun (January 2013-December 2015)
currently at U of Chicago
Dr. Subhash C. Verma (February 2013-October 2015)
currently at NIH (Bethesda, MD)
Dr. Kirsten Guckes (Spring 2017 – Summer 2023)
currently at Salisbury University
Former Graduate Researchers:
Nathan Wasilko (2015-2020)
Ericka Surrett (Fall 2014 – Spring 2022)
Jessica Eason (2019-2021)
Former Undergraduate Researchers:
Cammie Murray (Fall 2023 – Spring 2024)
Jenny Miller (Fall 2022 – Spring 2024)
Gareth Francis (Fall 2021 – Spring 2024)
Rachel Cook (Fall 2021 – Spring 2024)
Rachel Harter (Fall 2021- Spring 2024)
Kaiya Grayson (Spring 2021- Spring 2023)
Grace Buddle (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)
Lizzie Giacobe (Fall 2020 – Summer 2022)
Aidan Donnelly (Fall 2020 – Summer 2022)
Christina Beaubrun (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)
Annie Urban (Spring 2020 – Fall 2022)
Allison Rawson (Fall 2020-Spring 2022)
Caroline Ulanoski (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021)
Chase Cunningham (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021)
Peyton Moore (Fall 2019 – Summer 2022)
Molly Ehrig (Spring 2019 – Spring 2022)
Shyan Cousins (Fall 2018 – Summer 2022)
Isabella Baka (Fall 2020-Spring 2021)
Emily Baker (Fall 2019 – Spring 2021)
Anjali McNeil (Fall 2018 – Summer 2021)
Taylor Yount (Fall 2017-Summer 2020)
Mandi Williams (Fall 2017 – Fall 2019)
Britney Peachy (Fall 2019-Summer 2020)
Katrina Bynum (Fall 2019)
Andy Murtha (Spring 2016-Spring 2019)
Roxy Evande (Summer 2018-Spring 2019)
Caroline Steingard (Spring 2015 – Summer 2018)
Briana Nunez (Spring 2017 – Fall 2018)
Rachel Bruning (Spring 2018- Fall 2018)
Diego Santos (Spring 2018- Fall 2018)
Kayla Root (Spring 2018 – Fall 2018)
Marinelle Azar (Spring 2018)
Austin Wittmer (Fall 2016 – Spring 2018)
Brian Bui (Fall 2016 – Fall 2017)
Aleia Mouchref (Spring 2016 – Summer 2017)
Nicholas Carter Cann (Fall 2016- Summer 2017)
Emily Grandinette (Spring 2016 – Spring 2017)
Eli LaSota (Summer 2015 – Spring 2016)
Jessie Larios-Valencia (Fall 2014 – Spring 2016)
Kyle LaPenna (Spring 2014 – Spring 2016)
Zach Houston (Spring 2015 – Spring 2016)
Emma Schwendeman (Spring 2016)
Elli Tatsumi (Spring 2015 – Fall 2015)
Imperio Real-Rodrigez (Summer 2015)
Nicole McKay (Fall 2014 – Spring 2015)
Alexandra Perry (Summer 2013-Spring 2015)
Haikel Bogale (Summer 2013 – Spring 2015)
Daniel Reynolds (Summer 2013 – Spring 2015)
Patricia Mantero (Fall 2014 – Spring 2015)
T. Blake Weiss (Spring 2014 – Fall 2014)
Samantha Barton (Fall 2013 – Spring 2014)
Kathryn Dent (Summer 2014)
Brittany Heffelfinger (Fall 2013 – Fall 2014)
Xwei Fun Ng (Summer 2013 – Spring 2014)
Lauren LaRue (Spring 2014)
Jonathan Lui (Fall 2013 – Spring 2014)
Dan Snellings (Spring 2014)
Neil Kelkar (Spring 2014)
Erik Kerns (Fall 2013)
Nigel Lewis (Summer 2013)