Paul Bieniasz, Ph.D., Head of Lab
Theodora Hatziioannou, Ph.D.
Our research seeks to identify how host proteins and pathways influence the replication of retroviruses and coronaviruses. Focusing on retroviruses, our team works to determine the functions of viral proteins and characterize mechanisms by which lentiviruses avoid or counteract cellular inhibitors in their natural hosts and other species. Our work has demonstrated how species-specific inhibitory proteins can restrict lentivirus tropism and has used this knowledge to develop improved animal models for HIV-1 and AIDS. Focusing on coronaviruses, our team has characterized antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2 in the human population following infection, vaccination and an ever increasing combination of both. We demonstrated that virus escape from neutralizing antibodies is the main driver of virus evolution leading to successive waves of variants. Our understanding of the forces driving virus evolution and host responses has informed our work on the generation of novel vaccine and therapeutic interventions against multiple viruses.
Trinity Zang, Lab Manager
B.S. Chatham University
M.S. Miami University of Ohio
Trinity’s research covers various aspects of the life cycle of HIV-1 and theinteractions between viral and host proteins.Currently she is also involved in the on-goingSARS-CoV-2 projects in the lab.
Clara Benioff, Administrative Assistant
B.A. Columbia University
M.A.(c) Hunter College
Clara provides administrative support to the Bieniasz-Hatziioannou lab.
Miranda Aldis, Research Assistant
B.S. University of Texas.
M.S. University of Texas
Miranda’s work focuses on the characterization of HIV-1 proteins, particularly the Vif complex with cellular factors to determine the structure and function of this protein.
Viren Baharani, Ph.D. Candidate
B.S. UNC Chapel Hill
Viren studies the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2.
Angelina Bajger, Research Assistant
B.S. NYU
M.S.(c) NYU
Angelina’s work focuses on the development of fusion proteins to treat interferon mediated autoimmune diseases.
Athanasios Bakasis, Postdoctoral Associate
M.D. University of Ioannina
M.S., Ph.D.(c) Athens Medical School
Athanasios’ work aims to identify novel interferon stimulated genes with antiretroviral activity.
Christopher Bianco, Research Associate
B.S. Stony Brook
Ph.D. NYU
Chris investigates host-pathogen interactions in virus infected cells.
Marie Canis, Research Assistant
B.S. University of Lille
M.S. Université Paris Cité
Marie’s work consists of understanding the HIV-1 latency and how certain cellular proteins interact and limit virus replication.
Keanu Davis, M.D/Ph.D Candidate
B.A. Washington University in St. Louis
Keanu studies the function of retroviral capsid and nucleocapsid proteins in the infectious process.
Edmund Osei Kuffour, Postdoctoral Associate
Ph.D. Heinrich Heine University
Edmund’s research focuses on functionally defining HIV-host interaction during the early HIV-1 lifecycle.
Songhee Lee, Research Assistant
B.S. Carnegie Mellon University
Songhee focuses on the adaptation of HIV-1 envelopes of various clades in response to broadly neutralizing antibodies.
Xiao Lei, Research Associate
Ph.D. University of Southern California
Xiao works on HIV-1 genome splicing and packaging.
Manivel Lodha, Postdoctoral Associate
M.S. University College London
Ph.D. University of Wuerzburg
Manivel is interested in utilizing CPER-based reverse genetics to study human coronavirus transcription regulation and host cell biology.
Jose Oferman, Lab Helper
Jose supports lab staff by providing solutions, media, and assisting in day-to-day operations.
Virender Kumar Pal, Postdoctoral Associate
Ph.D. Indian Institute of Science
Virender studies the mechanisms behind long-term survival and expansion of HIV-1 infected clones and maintenance of latency.
Rachel Patejak, Research Assistant
B.S. University of Iowa
Rachel focuses on the uncoating of HIV-1 capsid during nuclear entry.
Sadman Shawraz, Research Assistant
B.S. The City College of New York
Sadman is working on developing an in-vitro nanobody optimization technique based on target antigens to treat infections from pathogens such as HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.
Alex Stabell, Visiting Clinical Fellow in Medicine
B.S. University of Chicago
M.D./Ph.D. University of Colorado
Alex’s current research interests lie at the interface of viral evolution and adaptive immunity, investigating how the HIV-1 envelope escapes from the neutralizing antibody response.
Michael Tartell, Postdoctoral Associate
B.A. University of Chicago
Ph.D. Harvard University
Michael studies interferon-stimulated genes which impact viruses, and how viruses have evolved in turn to counteract cellular defenses.
Fengwen Zhang, Senior Research Associate
B.S. Peking University
Ph.D. Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS
Fengwen’s current projects focus on virus-host interactions, including HIV-1 and SARS-CoV-2.
Lennard Voss, Visiting Master’s Student
B.S. Humboldt University of Berlin
Lennard seeks to understand the interactions of human coronavirus proteins with cellular antiviral host proteins.