People

Kevin Bakker

Kevin is interested in infectious disease transmission across temporal and spatial scales with a focus on seasonality. He recently started a faculty position in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan. In addition to science, he enjoys backpacking, traveling, hiking, running marathons with friends, cycling, hanging with his dog, and playing board games.

Curriculum Vitae

Current Lab Group

Reiden Magdaleno

Clare Dougherty

Shreya Mullapudi

Reiden is a sophomore at the University of Michigan with an anticipated major in Public Health on the pre-med track. This is his second year in the lab and he plans to continue his research on the spatiotemporal dynamics of vector-borne diseases (dengue, malaria, scrub typhus) and the role of meteorological and environmental factors in VBD risk. Ultimately, he hopes his research could translate into improved disease prevention and vector control measures especially among low- and middle-income countries which have the highest disease burden of vector-borne diseases. Outside of studying, Reiden loves playing the drums, making beats, and jamming out with his friends.

Clare is a senior at the University of Michigan and is currently double majoring in both German and Biology, Health, and Society. This is her fourth year of research with the group and hopes to apply to Physician Assistant programs upon graduating from Michigan. Clare’s research focuses on the seasonality of influenza in the 20th century. She hopes to learn more about the factors that impact influenza outbreaks to improve vaccination efficiency in the modern age. When she is not studying, Clare loves to spend time outdoors hiking and kayaking as well as traveling and exploring all of the great shops and restaurants in Ann Arbor.

Shreya recently graduated from her undergrad at UofM where she double majored in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Gender & Health. Currently, she is interested in research regarding wastewater-based epidemiology, studying COVID-19, and women’s health disparities. In the near future she hopes to attend medical school. Outside of the lab, Shreya is a member of TBTN, an organization that strives to end sexual, relationship, and domestic violence. Aside from school, she enjoys cooking, baking, yoga, and hanging out with her friends and family.

Sasha Tretyakova

Michelle Ammerman

Alyson Miller

Sasha is a first-year Master's Student in the School of Public Health and is getting her degree in Epidemiology. In addition, Sasha is working towards her Social Epidemiology Certificate, Global Health Certificate, Rackham Professional Development DEI Certificate, and the UM Graduate Teacher Certificate. Her research interests include COVID and other infectious diseases as well as global health. For fun, she likes to travel, play in IM sports leagues, and volunteer at the Humane Society. After her MPH, she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in Epidemiology.

Michelle is working in both the Wigginton and Bakker labs and will be managing the SEWER project that involves monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in daily wastewater samples. Although her Ph.D. is in Biochemistry, she has spent the last 8 years on project that bridge biology and engineering, with a focus on microorganisms. In her free time she enjoys hiking, mushroom hunting, and good food and drink.

Alyson is currently a sophomore at the University of Michigan. She plans to major in Public Health and minor in business on the pre-med track. Through this research, she hopes to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence disease outbreaks through modeling and analysis. Outside of research, she loves to play tennis, run and travel which she can hopefully do more of once the pandemic is over!

Padmashri Saravanan

Libby Kelley

Khaitlyn Figueroa

Padma is a senior at Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences, Pilani, India and is currently majoring in Mathematics. She is joining the group for a research thesis and hopes to move on to the Masters in Computational Epidemiology and Numerical Modelling programme upon graduating and hopes to work in the Public Health field. She is interested in research on infectious disease analytics and modelling, and hopes her work can help bring social change! Outside math, Padma enjoys cooking, touch rugby and helping out in non-profit organizations and public speaking.

Libby is a sophomore at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree in Public Health Sciences on the pre-med track. This is her first year of research with the lab group and she is excited to start taking a look at seasonality and other motivators of infection associated with specific pathogens. Libby has a passion for understanding social determinants of health in low-income and minority communities with a focus on children and youth, and hopes that her work can help better the lives and health of people within those communities. When she’s not in the classroom or lab, Libby enjoys hiking, spending quality time with her friends and family, or reading a good book.

Khaitlyn recently graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Manhattan College. She is currently taking a gap year assisting in a wastewater-based epidemiology research project that involves monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. Her primary interest involves reducing the health disparities gap by raising awareness of racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. She hopes to pursue a D.O. in the future. In her spare time, Khaitlyn enjoys painting, hiking, and yoga.

Gabrielle Flint

Jennifer Goodman

Maria Wajahat

Gabi is a recent graduate from the University of Michigan where she received her BS in Microbiology and minored History. Now Gabi is working on the SEWER project as a laboratory associate, executing wastewater epidemiology research day to day. Outside of research Gabi enjoys reading, playing her viola, yoga, and backpacking.

Jennifer is a junior at the University of Michigan on the pre-med track and is majoring in Biology, Health, and Society with a double minor in Gender & Health and Global History. This is her first year in the lab and is looking forward to working with the team and seeing how patterns of infectious diseases over time can help contribute to modern disease understanding. Jennifer is passionate about women’s health, equal access to education, and mental health. In the future, Jennifer hopes to have her career centered around helping women in vulnerable populations. Outside of school, Jennifer enjoys running outside when the weather is nice, reading, and spending time with her roommates.

Maria is a freshman at the University of Michigan with an anticipated major of International Studies, and a concentration in Global Health and Environment, on a pre-medicine track. Currently, she is interested in conducting research on the seasonality of epidemics, and how they can impact health policy. Outside of the lab, Maria is involved with the Partners in Health, an organization which serves to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them. Outside of her studies, she likes hiking, traveling, and cooking. She also enjoys reading in her free time.

Xavier Jenkins

Xavier is a freshman at the University of Michigan pursuing a degree from the College of Engineering. This is his first experience with lab work and he’s excited to see how public health and policy intersect with engineering can overlap. Xavier is also involved in DJs A Capella and various political organizations around campus. In his spare time Xavier enjoys singing, playing soccer, collecting records, and watching football.