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Lab Personnel

Dr. Scott Weber

BYU_1909-71 086
Principle Investigator
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology
LinkedInGoogle scholar, and ResearchGate pages

Received his bachelor and master degrees from Brigham Young University in 1998 and 2000 and his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in 2005 studying under Dave Kranz. After a postdoctoral fellowship with Paul Allen at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis, he was a Research Instructor at Washington University Medical School in St. Louis before coming to Brigham Young University in 2012.

Research interests: Helper T cell activation and improving immune response to infection.
Hobbies: Triathlons, basketball, hiking, and saving the world one T cell at a time.

Carlos Moreno

Graduate Student

Research interest: T cell activation and metabolism, bioinformatics, and immunotherapy.
Hobbies: Running, hiking, reading, drawing, and playing music.

Abby Cheever

Graduate Student

Research interest: Immunotherapy development, specifically CAR T cell research for cancer and autoimmune disease.
Hobbies: Painting, paddleboarding, trying new recipes, and is a wildflower enthusiast.

Topher Haynie

BYU {filename base} 2021
Graduate student

Research interests: Using molecular dynamic simulations to improve immunotherapy effectiveness.
Hobbies: Playing in the cougar marching band.

Alka Gaur

Graduate student

Research interests: Immunotherapy development for autoimmune disorder.
Hobbies: Reading, singing, dancing, spending quality time with family and cooking.

Miranda Sharp

Graduate Student

Research interest: T cell metabolism, immunotherapy, cancer research.
Hobbies: Spending time with family, hiking, video games, crafting.

Hunter Lindsay

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Immunotherapy development and the mechanisms of autoimmunity.
Hobbies: Skiing, hiking, cooking, and exploring the world.

Colby Hendrix

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Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Cancer Immunotherapy Development, T Cells, Immunosuppression / Immunocompromising conditions.
Hobbies: Soccer, mountain biking, guitar, and spending time with family.

Mackenzie Hansen

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Developing effective immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases
Hobbies: Playing piano, reading, film analysis, ripsticking, cooking

Cody McStraw

Cody McStraw
Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: T cell activation, immunotherapy, and alternative cancer treatment methods.
Hobbies: Soccer, hiking, outdoor activities, sports, and reading.

Alexa Bailey

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Immunity and T cell activation
Hobbies: Running, playing the violin, dancing, singing, and reading

Chloe Kang

Undergraduate

Research Interests: T-Cell immunotherapy and its applications in autoimmune diseases and cancer research
Hobbies: Hiking, photography, music, and 90's sitcoms

Sophie Daines

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Autoimmunity and immunotherapies
Hobbies: Piano, listening to music, reading, anything that involves being outside in nature, and card games

Spencer Hess

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Immunotherapy and cancer research
Hobbies: Playing piano, shower singing, hiking and sports, movies and musicals

Kimball Demars

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Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: autoimmune deficiencies, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
Hobbies: musical theatre, long-distance running, Utah national parks, listening to his wife play harp

Weber Lab Alumni

Joshua Bennett

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Understanding and exploring advancements in T-cell therapies for different diseases.
Hobbies: Sudoku, card games, acquiring fun facts, musicals, vibing to nostalgic TV shows, and watching National Geographic.
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Tina Tavana

Graduate Student

Tina graduated from Brigham Young University-Hawaii with a B.S. in Biology in 2003 and completed an MBA with an emphasis in Health Care Management from the University of Phoenix in 2009.​

Research: Prevention, diagnosis, and the genetic basis of Alzheimer's and rheumatic heart disease. Hobbies: Basketball, golf, traveling, and spending time with family.

Austin Hansen

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: T Cell activation and cancer immunotherapy.
Hobbies: Running, soccer, biking, camping, reading, and watching Utah Jazz basketball!

Sterling Fuller

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: DNA sequencing, bioinformatics, and pretty much anything.
Hobbies: Violin, skiing, rock climbing, and biking.

Ellie Bybee

Undergraduate student

Research Interests: Human genetics, genetic markers for disease, and potential cures.
Hobbies: Trail running, snowmobiling, road biking, water coloring, acrylic art, and playing the piano.
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Laura Baird

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Immunotherapies, the immune system, cancer, and the mechanistic pathways of cancer cells.
Hobbies: Running, reading, being outside, making weird food, meeting people and learning anything new.
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Kevin Schreiber

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Immunotherapy, T-cell activation.
Hobbies: Pickleball, soccer, and card games.
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Dr. Kiara Vaden Whitley

2022 MMBIO PhD

Adjunct Faculty, MMBIO BYU

Kiara graduated from BYU-Idaho with a B.S. in Biology in 2014 and worked for a year as an adjunct professor teaching Human Anatomy at BYU-Idaho.

Research Interest: T cell affinity in memory responses and immunotherapies
Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, four-wheeling, shooting, cooking (Asian food), and anything nerdy!
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John Dickson

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Role of T-cells in cancer treatment.
Hobbies: Skiing, camping, rock climbing, and anything in between.

Abby Johnson

2022 MMBIO graduate
MMBIO Ph.D. graduate student
Undergraduate student

Research Interests: Immunotherapies, especially for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Hobbies: Dancing, painting, paddle boarding, hiking, and collecting dried wildflowers.

Isabella Wallwitz

2022 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Research related to Alzheimer's disease and cancer
Hobbies: Singing, dancing, scuba diving, reading, watching movies and musicals and being outdoors.
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Joshua Teasdale

2022 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student 

Research interests: Immunotherapies, gene therapies, genetic basis for Alzheimer's disease
Hobbies: Exploring the untamed wilds, piano, cooking, board games, running, archery, skiing, longswording
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Lucie Dearden

2021 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student 

Research interests: Alzheimer’s disease and the human immune system 
Hobbies: baking, playing the piano, scuba diving, and sleeping

Brigham Perry

Undergraduate Student

Research interests: Bioinformatics and cancer immunotherapy
Hobbies: rock climbing, tennis, reading, and snowboarding

Ben Marwedel

Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Cancer and the human immune system
Hobbies: Rock climbing, reading, biking, volunteering, and piano

Kyle Reaveley

2022 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate Student

Hobbies: Hiking, camping, climbing, and any type of eating challenge that presents itself.
Research interests: Immunotherapy and T Cell activation
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Yuko Sperry

2021 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student 

Research interests: Inflammation and peridontal disease
Hobbies: Hiking, doing puzzles, watching documentaries, and eating raman

Andrew Nelson

Chemical Engineering graduate
Undergraduate Student

Research Interests: Neurodegenerative Diseases
Hobbies: Running, Hiking, Cooking
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Jessica Elmer

2020 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student 

Research interests: Inflammation and peridontal disease
Hobbies: Running, soccer, hiking, four-wheeling, and spending time wth family
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Alexa Tall

2020 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student 

Research interests: Molecular basis of T cell activation
Hobbies: Listening to music, going to concerts, and singing to myself. 
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Dr. Deborah Johnson

2020 MMBIO Ph.D. 

Deborah graduated from the University of Utah in 2012 with a B.S. in Biology and a B. Mus. in Violin Performance and worked as a research technician at the Stanford University-Hopkins Marine Station. She completed her Ph.D. in MMBIO while working in the Weber and Poole labs in 2020.

Research Interests:  T cell activation and effects of avidityHobbies: Avoiding fresh seafood, drawing, Celtic fiddling, cycling, running, and reading.
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Dr. Josue Gonzalez

2020 Biology Ph.D.
Post doctoral Fellow. Van Andel Institute. Grand Rapids Michigan

Josue graduated from Escuela Nacional de Agricultura in El Salvador with a B.S. in Agricultural Science in 2005 and from BYU with a B.S. in Genetics and Biotechnology in 2016 and completed his Ph.D. in Biology while working in the Weber and Kauwe labs in 2020.

Research Interest: Bioinformatics and genes causing Alzheimer's disease
Hobbies: Time with family, playing soccer, latin dancing, reading, and any type of outdoors activities.

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Wyatt Magoffin

2021 Neuroscience graduate

Research interests: Characterization of high affinity TCRs
Hobbies: Rock climbing, soccer, playing the piano and Settlers of Catan.

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Allen Weinert

2020 MMBIO graduate
BioFire Diagnostics. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Research Interest: T cell memory responses and immunotherapies
Hobbies: golfing, hiking, composing music, and cooking badly

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Josie Tueller

2019 MMBIO M.S. graduate

TCRCure. Durham, North Carolina.

Josie graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Microbiology in 2017. Josie completed her Master's degree at Brigham Young University in the Weber lab in 2019.

Research Interest: T cell affinity in memory responses and immunotherapies
Hobbies: Playing tennis, making chocolate chip cookies, and reading Wikipedia.

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Ashlin Cowger

2019 MMBIO M.S. graduate

Thunder Biotech. Alpine, Utah.

Ashlin graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a B.S. in Biology (Microbiology emphasis) in 2017. Ashlin completed her Master's degree at Brigham Young University in the Weber lab in 2019.

Research Interest: Role of environmental endotoxin exposure on asthma develoment
Hobbies: Camping, hiking, fishing, hunting, and playing the flute.

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Dr. Claudia Tellez Freitas

2019 MMBIO Ph.D. graduate

Assistant Professor. Roseman University of Health Sciences. South Jordan, Utah.

Claudia graduated from Andes University with a B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science in 2000 and received her associate degree in Business Management from LDS Business College in 2005. Claudia completed her Ph.D. at Brigham Young University in the Weber lab in 2019.

Research Interest: T cell interactions with macrophages. Single cell intracellular calcium imaging
Hobbies: Time with family, swimming, writing poetry, international food, and drawing
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Charles Teames

2019 MMBIO graduate
University of Utah Medical School. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Research Interest: T cell immunotherapies and T regulatory cells
Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, poetry, backpacking, and playing the saxophone.

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Tyler Cox

2018 MMBIO graduate
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Ivans, Utah.

Research interest: Neuroimmunology and behavior
Hobbies: Mountain biking, swimming, camping, snowboarding and woodworking.

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Rachel Johnson

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Cancer immunotherapy and genetic counseling
Hobbies: Dancing, the playing violin and cello, and spending time outdoors.

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Dr. Chung-Da Yang

Visiting Research Scholar (May 2017-June 2018)
Graduate Institute of Animal Vaccine Technology

National Pingtung University of Science and Technology; Tiawan

Research Interests: Developing and improving vaccines and adjuvants against infectious diseases.
Hobbies: Watching movies, hiking, and shopping with friends

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Anne Dunne

Undergraduate student

Research interests: CAR therapy, antioxidants, and T cells
Hobbies: Backing, surfing, and playing the piano

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David Bellini

2021 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student

Research interests: Bioinformatics and medical research
Hobbies: Traveling, soccer, tennis, hiking, dancing, piano, programming, and cooking
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John Hancock

2015 PDBIO graduate
2016-2017 Weber lab technician

University of Utah Medical School. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Research Interest: Immune system metabolism, high affinity T cell receptors, and immunotherapies.
Hobbies: Exercising, lasagna, and Duke basketball

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Garrett Hamblin

2017 Health Science graduate
Arizona State Medical School.

Research interests: T cell activation and calcium signaling
Hobbies: Tennis

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Carlee Raymond

2017 MMBIO graduate

Research Interest: T cell interactions with macrophages and intracellular calcium imaging
Hobbies: Photography, mountain biking, talking to people, eating chocolate, and ukulele.

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Tia Thomas

Undergraduate Student

Research Interest: T cell activation and effects of avidity
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music, playing flute and piano, and traveling

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Joon Kim

2017 MMBIO graduate

Research Interest: Engineering immune cells using yeast display
Hobbies: Reading books, cooking and eating, World of Warships, and watching National Geographic.





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Dr. Daniel Thompson

2022 MMBIO Ph.D. graduate
2017 MMBIO graduate

Research interests: Metabolism
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Mitch Cook

2017 PDBIO graduate

Research Interest: Role of metabolism on immune system

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Lance Christian

2017 Chemical Engineering Graduate

Research Interest: Engineering immune cells using yeast display

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Blaine Penrod

Undergraduate student

Research interests: Mouse genotyping
Hobbies: Archery, weights, and rifle shooting

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Becca Nemrow

2018 MMBIO graduate
Undergraduate student

Research interests: Engineering T cell receptors
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Steven Ogden

Undergraduate student

Research interests: T cell memory formation

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Sheldon Myers

2016 BYU MMBIO Graduate
Biotech Industry

Research Interest: Engineering high affinity T cell receptors
Personal Interests: Sleeping, reading, being a homebody with roommates

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Justin Crandall

2016 BYU MMBIO Graduate
Biotech Industry

Research Interest: Engineering immune cells using yeast display
Personal Interests: Running

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Niels Steadman

2016 BYU MMBIO Graduate
Biotech Industry

Research Interest: T cell interactions with macrophages and calcium imaging


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Kemais Ehlers

2015 BYU MMBIO graduate
Biotech Industry

Research Interest: Macrophage and T cell interactions and reading short protocols
Personal Interests: Road biking, attending concerts, and talking about my knee

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Ryan Cook

2013 BYU Biology graduate
2014-2015 Weber Lab technician
2015-2019 Medical student - Midwestern University Medical School
2019 Anesthesia Resident - University of Florida

Research Interest: Keeping this lab running like a well oiled machine . . .
Personal Interests: Playing sports (especially basketball), hiking, being outdoors, eating great food.

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Morgan Christiansen

2015 BYU MMBIO graduate
University of Utah Bioscience Ph.D Program

Research Interest: Exploring role of dust mites and asthma
Personal Interests: Winning intramural championships, competitive racquetball, picking up pennies

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Spencer Dykman

2017 Neuroscience graduate
Creighton dental school

Research Interest: Engineering T cell receptors using yeast display
Personal Interests: Russian

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Bryce Anderson

2015 BYU PDBIO graduate
University of Washington Medical School

Research Interest: Engineering high affinity T cell receptors using yeast display
Personal Interests: Mountains, rock climbing, paddle boarding, cliff jumping, and riding my motorcycle

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Taylor Hoybjerg

2015 BYU Exercise Science graduate

Research Interest: Exploring role of dust mites and asthma
Personal Interests: Raquetball, winning intramural championships, eating good food, working on cars

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Kurt Williams

2016 BYU MMBIO graduate
North Dakota State University STEM education Ph.D. program

Research Interest: Macrophage and T cell interactions and atherosclerosis
Personal Interests: Science fiction, reading and writing poetry, drawing, and studying Asian cultures

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Brian Ballard

2015 BYU Spanish graduate
Kansas City University Medical School


Research Interest: Site directed mutagenesis of T cell receptors
Personal Interests: Sports, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and rafting

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Taylor Orton

2013 BYU MMBIO graduate
2013-2014 Weber Lab technician
University of Nevada Medical School

Research Interest: Lab “Yoda”
Personal Interests: Sometimes running, mostly reading ESPN, and playing rock paper scissors.

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Evan Campbell

2014 BYU MMBIO graduate
Navy Special Warfare

Research Interest: T cell receptor engineering and investigating the hygiene hypothesis
Personal Interests: Exercising, weight lifting, joining Navy Special Warfare, and growing facial hair

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Julene Johnson

2014 BYU MMBIO graduate
Technical writer

Research Interest: Exploring role of humidity on asthma and slamming ELISA plates
Personal Interests: Creative writing, learning Korean, and playing volleyball

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Brian Pando

2014 BYU MMBIO graduate
Texas A&M Medical School

Research Interest: PCR assay to detect mecC in Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus