Melissa Maginnis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Microbiology
Ph.D. (2007) Vanderbilt University, Microbiology and Immunology
Research: Identification and Characterization of Cellular Determinants of Reovirus Internalization
Advisor: Terry Dermody, M.D.
Dermody Lab
Postdoctoral Training: Brown University
Research: Molecular Mechanisms of JC Polyomavirus Attachment and Entry
Advisor: Walter Atwood, Ph.D.
Atwood Lab
Graduate students:
Lucas Bennett; Ph.D. in Biochemistry Program
Sophie Craig; Ph.D. GSBSE Program
Kristina Kelly; M.S. in Microbiology Program
Undergraduate students:
Sydney Brown; University of Maine 2025
Gabriella Giftos; University of Maine 2026
Jasper Makowski; University of Maine 2026
Anna Molloy; University of Maine 2028
Luise Reinwald; University of Maine 2027
Myla Schneider; University of Maine 2025
Research Assistant:
Orianna Goldberg
Rotation students:
The Maginnis laboratory is open for rotations for Spring/Summer 2025 for admitted students in M&BS and GSBSE Programs.
Lab Alumni:
Graduate Students:
Ph.D. Students:
Avery Bond; Ph.D. in Microbiology, Current position: R&D Scientist, MMQCI
Jeanne DuShane Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Current position: Senior Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb
Kashif Mehmood; Fulbright Scholar, Ph.D. in Microbiology, Current position: Postdoctoral Associate, DiMaio Lab, Yale University
Colleen Mayberry; Ph.D. in Microbiology, Current position: Postdoctoral Associate, The Jackson Laboratory
Michael Wilczek; Ph.D. in Microbiology, Current position: Assistant Teaching Professor, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, The Roux Institute at Northeastern University
M.S. Students:
Mason Crocker; M.S. in Microbiology, Current position: Tufts University School of Medicine
Amanda Sandberg; M.S. in Microbiology, Current position: MD/PhD Program, Virginia Commonwealth University
Undergraduate Students:
Francesca Armstrong, University of Maine, 2020, Current position: Nursing School
Olivia Brunetti, University of Maine 2023, Current position: Histotechnician/ Clinical Assistant Scribe at Massachusetts Dermatology Associates
Lauren Cusson, University of Maine 2023, Current position: PA School, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Tristan Fong, University of Maine, 2020, Current position: Tufts University School of Medicine
Remi Geohegan, University of Maine 2022, Current position: GSBSE PhD Program, University of Maine
Paige Giffault, University of Maine 2021, Current position: UNE College of Medicine 2022
Laura Horowitz, University of Maine, 2017, Current position: UNE College of Medicine 2019
Kristina Kelly, University of Maine 2024, Current position: Master’s in Microbiology Program, University of Maine
Lara Kirkby, University of Maine 2024, Current position: Professional Soccer Player, Adelaide United Football Club, Australia
Abby Kraemer, University of Maine 2024, Current position: Professional Soccer Player, Grupo Desportivo Estoril Praia, Portugal
Conner Lajoie, University of Maine, 2017, Previous position: Broad Institute, Current position: UNE College of Medicine 2020
Nate Jordan, University of Maine 2023, Current position: MS Program in Microbiology, University of Maine
Tyler Lang, University of Maine, 2018 (volunteer), Tufts University School of Medicine (M.D., 2022), Current position: Medical Resident, University of Rochester Medical Center
Nick Leclerc, University of Maine 2021, Current position: PhD Program in Microbiology, University of Maine
Francois Levasseur, University of Maine 2020, Current position: Strand Therapeutics
Trevor Lyford, Brown University, 2018, Current position: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Sarah Nichols, University of Maine, 2020, Current position: Wake Forest University PhD Program
Aiden Pike, University of Maine 2023, Current position: 4+1 Program in Bioinformatics, The Roux Institute at Northeastern
Stephen Rezack, University of Maine 2023, Current position: Northern Light Medical Center
Amanda Sandberg; M.S., University of Maine 2022, 2024, Current position: MD/PhD Program VCU
Adam Simard, B.S., University of Maine, 2015 (Capstone student), Current position: PhD program, Dartmouth College
Ashley Soucy, University of Maine, 2018 (Honors College), Current position: GSBSE Graduate Program, University of Maine
Becca Takagaki, University of Maine 2024, Current position: US Navy
