Microbiology and Immunology Trainee Seminar Series

The Department of Virology, Immunology & Microbiology (VIM) and Immunology Training Program (ITP) Trainee Seminar/Journal Club sessions are held on Mondays at 12:00 noon in the X222 VIM conference room.  All presentations are in person only, with the exception of defenses which will be hybrid. Email reminders will be sent prior to each seminar.

Please email kfurness@bu.edu if you want to be added to the email listserv.

Click here for previous seminars.

Spring 2026 VIM and ITP Trainee Seminar and Journal Club Series
January 26 Cancelled due to inclement weather
Thursday,
January 29
1:00 PM in L112
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
“Characterizing the Unique Sperm Glycan Landscape: Determining the Human Contraception Antibody’s Epitope and the effects of Bacterial Vaginosis Derived Sialidases on Sperm”
Sarah Dohadwala
February 2 STUDENT SEMINARS
“Heterologous Protection against Bacterial Pneumonia”
Brittny Garcia, Mizgerd Lab
and
“Discovering the CRL4 Complex as a Putative Regulator of Ebola Virus Infection”
Jillian Grassia, Davey Lab
February 9 STUDENT SEMINARS
“Creating Genetically Barcoded Ebola Viruses to Study Viral Population Dynamics”
Emil Mah, Sullivan Lab
and
“Mechanisms driving poly(A)-independent mRNA stability and translation in Arenaviruses”
Annie Wen, Cifuentes Lab
February 16 NO SEMINAR
February 23 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
“Characterization of Powassan Virus Pathogenesis in C57BL/6 Mice”
Devin Kenney, Saeed Lab
and
“Sequencing in Containment: Developing Genomic Surveillance for Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus”
Emily LaVerriere, Connor Lab
Tuesday,
February 24
1:00 PM in X222
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
“Characterization of a Novel Genomic Locus with Pro-Viral Function in Orthoflavivirus Infection
Elizabeth Chavez
March 2 STUDENT SEMINARS
“Disentangling Shared and Distinct Gene Signatures of Robust Vaccine Responses”
Stephanie Hao, Tomic Lab
and
“An Investigation of Links between Herpesviruses and Neurodegenerative Diseases”
Laura Polanco, Cappione Lab
March 9 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
“Development of a Novel Humanized Mouse Model for Ebola Virus Infection”
Shilpa Kuttikrishnan, Misasi Lab
and
Giulia Unali, Douam Lab
Tuesday,
March 10
1:00 PM in L110
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
Jonathan Kilroy
Friday,
March 13
12:00 PM in L110
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
Andrew Leal
March 16 JOURNAL CLUB
Presenter: Sonia Mukherjee
March 23 JOURNAL CLUB
Presenter: Jonathan Eddy
March 30 STUDENT SEMINARS
“Mechanisms of Ebola Virus Entry in CD169+ Macrophages”
Tiffany Chan, Gummuluru Lab
and
“A Novel Class of Orthopoxvirus Inhibitors, Pyridopyrimidinones (PDPMs), Triggers Aberrant Polymerase Functions that Activate Host Antiviral Pathways”
Joelle Johnson, Connor Lab
April 6 JOURNAL CLUB
Presenter: Cameron Ong
April 13 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
Shreya Banerjee, Gummuluru Lab
and
Bradley Hiller, Mizgerd Lab
April 20 NO SEMINAR
April 27 STUDENT SEMINARS
Mustafa Tuncay, Fearns Lab
and
Emily Wolfe, Douam Lab
May 4 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW SEMINARS
Jamie Kelly, Davey Lab
and
Cassandra Vondrak, Connor Lab
Thursday,
June 4
1PM in TBD
DISSERTATION DEFENSE SEMINAR
Christina McConney