Alumni
See how LLS alumni are applying skills from their fellowship and continuing to work in the areas of laboratory leadership, quality, safety and applied research.

Nicolle Baird, PhD
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology

Erik Kopping PhD
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Gul Mustafa, PhD, MSc
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Division of Bacterial Diseases

Maureen Ty, PhD, MSc
Dallas County Health and Human Services

Brian Wakeman, PhD
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology

Stephen LaVoie, PhD
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion

Christine Lee, PhD
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases

Kaitlin Mitchell, PhD, MPH
CDC Center for Global Health
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria

Muktha Natrajan, PhD, MPH
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Division of Bacterial Diseases

David Payne, PhD
District of Columbia DFS Public Health Laboratory

Jessica Prince-Guerra, PhD
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Division of Viral Diseases
Learn about Jessica’s work on the Featured Stories page.

Shelby Chastain, PhD
Quality Manager & Lead
QMS and CLIA Compliance Unit, Infectious Disease Pathology Branch
Division of High Consequences Pathogens and Pathology
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Amanda Hott, PhD
International Unit Lead
Bacterial Meningitis Laboratory, Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch
Division of Bacterial Diseases
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Jesica Jacobs, PhD
CDC Jurisdictional COVID-19 Field Assignee
Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory
Learn about Jesica’s work on the Featured Stories page.

Oren Mayer, PhD
Senior Research Science Officer
Viral Special Pathogens Branch
Division of High Consequences Pathogens and Pathology
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Kindra Stokes, PhD
Public Health Advisor
CDC’s Project Firstline
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Nicholas Wiese, PhD
Deputy Team Lead
Population Immunity Team
Polio and Picornavirus Branch
Division of Viral Diseases
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases

Evonne Woodson, PhD
Data Modernization Initiative Fellow
Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Learn about Evonne’s work on the Featured Stories page.

Shannon York, PhD
Project Manager
Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch
Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases

Sean Buono, PhD
Laboratory Consultant
Laboratory Capacity Team
Mycobacteriology Laboratory Branch
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention

Christina Carlson, PhD, MPH, MSc
Microbiologist
Malaria Branch
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
CDC Center for Global Health

Brandi Freeman, PhD, MS, MPH
Senior Research Scientist
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Division of Bacterial Diseases
Respiratory Diseases Branch
Respiratory Virus Immunology Team

Kara Levinson, PhD, MPH
Deputy Director
Division of Laboratory Services
Tennessee Department of Health
Watch Kara’s TED-style Talk given at the 2019 EIS conference.

Erin Scherer, PhD
Assistant Professor
Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Emory University
Director
Hope Clinic Research Laboratory
Emory Vaccine Center

Ashutosh Wadhwa, PhD, DVM, MS
Health Scientist
CDC Center for Global Health
International Laboratory Branch
Tuberculosis Clinical Monitoring Team

Randy Fowler, PhD
Chief of Mycobacteriology
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Watch this video to hear how Randy’s field assignment in Minnesota allowed him to make a difference inside and outside the lab.

Maggie Hardy, PhD
Chief Regulatory Scientist
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority

Cecilia Kretz, PhD
Manager, Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Association for Public Health Laboratories
Watch Cecilia’s TED-style Talk given at the 2019 EIS conference.
Watch this video to Cecilia share her personal and professional growth gained through her fellowship field assignment in New York.
Learn more about Cecilia’s career path and fellowship experience.

Marlon Lawrence, PhD
Employed at a public health laboratory; additional information not available.

David Lowe, PhD
(Acting) Lead of the Quality and Compliance Team
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of High-Consequence Pathogens And Pathology
Watch David’s TED-style Talk to hear about his work on “Improving Rabies Animal Models for Medical Countermeasures through Luminescent Viruses” presented at the 2019 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) conference.

Atanaska Marinova-Petkova, DVM, MS, PhD
Senior Biologist
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Division Of Tuberculosis Elimination
Learn more about Atanaska’s career path and fellowship experience.

Rita Stinnett, PhD, MHS
Program Manager, Research
IDbyDNA
Watch this video to hear Rita express why LLS is a challenge worth taking.

April Clayton, PhD
Senior Research Safety Manager
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Learn about April’s career path and fellowship experience.

Elizabeth Dietrich, PhD
Microbiologist
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of Vector-Borne Diseases

Kristine Kines, PhD, MSPH
Co-Lead, Virgin Islands Unit
CDC Office of Infectious Diseases
Office of the Director

Justine Pompey, PhD
Co-Lead, Virgin Islands Unit
CDC Office of Infectious Diseases
Office of the Director

Caelin Potts, PhD
Microbiologist
CDC National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Division of Bacterial Diseases
Watch this video to hear Caelin explain the fellowship’s dynamic learning environment and how it equips fellows to address urgent public health needs.
Learn about Caelin’s career path and fellowship experience. Watch this CDC Facebook Live video to learn more about Caelin’s fellowship experiences and career path to LLS.

Jessica Ricaldi, PhD, MD
Director of Tuberculosis Laboratory Quality Management
CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination
Watch this CDC Facebook Live video to hear about Jessica’s fellowship experiences and career path to LLS.

Diana Riner, PhD
Virology and Immunology Section Manager
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Watch this video to hear Diana discuss her LLS fellowship experiences.
Watch the Facebook video posted by the Michigan National Guard to hear Diana speak about the COVID-19 response while serving in her post-fellowship public health position.

Brunilis White, PhD
Branch Project Manager
CDC National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention
Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention
Learn about Brunie’s work on “Initial Public Health Laboratory Response after Hurricane Maria,” featured at the 2018 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) conference.

Aufra Araujo, PhD
Microbiologist
CDC Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services
Division of Laboratory Systems
Watch Aufra’s TED-style Talk given at the 2019 EIS conference.

Shannon Keckler, PhD, MPH
Coordinator, Branch Quality and Safety Management
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion

Anna Llewellyn, PhD
Global Polio Containment Officer
CDC Center for Global Health
Global Immunization Division

Alexandra Mercante, PhD
Quality Manager and Laboratory Safety Specialist
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases
Learn more about Alexandra’s career path and fellowship experience.

Peter Minchella, PhD
Epidemiologist
CDC Center for Global Health
Division of Global HIV and Tuberculosis

Sheila Okoth, PhD
Quality Manager
CDC Office of Laboratory Science and Safety, Office of Laboratory Science

Zachary Weiner, PhD
Lead, Quality and Compliance Team
CDC National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Division of High-Consequence Pathogens And Pathology
Learn more about Zachary’s career path and fellowship experience.