Tera Levin, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
teralevin [at] pitt.edu
she/her
Tera obtained her B.A. in Biology and Biochemistry at Oberlin College, with an undergraduate research focus in disease ecology. She then trained in molecular biology and immunology at the NIH, before pursuing her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology, UC Berkeley. There, she worked with Nicole King to discover mechanisms of bacteria-induced multicellularity in microeukaryotes called choanoflagellates. For her postdoctoral training, she worked with Harmit Malik at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, where she developed the Legionella-amoeba system as a model for the evolution of immunity and pathogenesis.
Outside of lab, Tera enjoys hiking, tide pooling, playing board games, and hanging out with her cats.
Ed Culbertson
Research assistant professor
edculbertson [at] pitt.edu
he/his
Ed received his B.S. in Biochemistry at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, with research interests in organic chemistry. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. At Hopkins, Ed worked with Val Culotta to uncover how pathogenic fungi adapt to host-imposed micronutrient stress.
He grew up in Northwest Pennsylvania along the Allegheny River. In his free time, Ed enjoys reading science fiction and fantasy, playing Dungeons and Dragons, hiking, rock climbing, and running.
Saheli Saha
Postdoctoral researcher
SAS1733 [at] pitt.edu
Saheli obtained her B.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Calcutta, India. Following which, she briefly pursued research on nanoparticles-based protein purification system during her M.Sc. in Biotechnology at Utkal University, India. She then joined the department of Microbiology and Cell Biology at the Indian Institute of Science to pursue her Ph.D. on Microbial Ecology and Evolution with Dr Samay Pande. During her Ph.D., her specific focus was on the bacterial predator-prey systems, and the evolutionary outcomes of abiotic factors on the Red-Queen dynamics. She then moved almost half way across the world from India to join the Levin lab as a postdoctoral researcher, where she interested in understanding how virulence genes evolve in host-environment.
Outside the lab, Saheli enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, playing board games and exploring new places.
Holly Nichols
Postdoctoral researcher
hollynichols [at] pitt.edu
Holly obtained a B. S. in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology where she studied bacterial competition and secretion systems with Dr. Brian Hammer. After graduation, she trained in evolution and symbiosis in the aphid-endosybiont-pathogen system with Dr. Benjamin Parker. She earned a PhD in Dr. Kerri Coon’s lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she explored microbial community assembly and developed tools for manipulating the mosquito microbiome towards control of vector-borne disease. She joined the Levin lab as a postdoc in 2026 where her current interests include microbial evolution and ecology.
Holly grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, biking, running, and reading library books.
James Drurey
Research technician
James received his B.S. in Biology at the University of Pittsburgh with a minor in Chemistry where he worked in the Richards-Zawacki Lab tracking the history of a fungal pathogen in amphibian populations.
James grew up outside of the Boston area and in his free time likes playing board games and video games, getting outdoors, and enjoying science fiction.
Averil Ludwick
Research Technician
AML347 [at] pitt.edu
she/her
Averil did her undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh, where she majored in Computational Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Her scientific passions include understanding the diverse field of laboratory work while collaborating with other members of the research community.
Averil was born and raised Pittsburgh, PA with her four younger siblings. In her free time, she loves exploring her hometown with her family and friends, enjoying the outdoors, and watching true crime documentaries.
Mische Holland
ISB Graduate student
mische.holland [at] pitt.edu
they/them
Mische received their B.S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology with Minors in Music and Computer Science from the University of California, San Diego. Their research interests are microbial evolution and host-pathogen conflicts.
Mische is also passionate about science communication, outreach, and diversity. At Pitt, Mische is a news staff writer at The Pitt News, GASP board member, and BGSA D&I Committee member. In their free time, Mische enjoys rock climbing, baking, travel, and Netflix.
Emily Cruz-Lorenzo
PMI Graduate student
emc225 [at] pitt.edu
she/her
Emily obtained her B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Genetics at the University of Puerto Rico-Aguadilla. Then, she went on to work at UT Southwestern Medical Center as a Research Assistant in Ivan D’Orso’s lab where she studied mechanisms of HIV latency reactivation.
She grew up in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico and enjoys cooking, trying out new restaurants, and playing video games.
Dani Farinella
MCDB Graduate student
dnf10 [at] pitt.edu
she/her
Dani received her B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Wake Forest University, where she researched how malaria impacts the gut microbiome.
Dani grew up on the east coast of Florida near the Indian River Lagoon. In her free time, she can usually be found rowing, trying new foods, or listening to a podcast on an obscure topic.
Join us!
We are currently recruiting new scientists to join our team:
Research technicians
PhD students
Postdoctoral fellows
Please visit the Join the lab page for more information on how to apply!
And check out our Lab Culture and Expectations document to learn what it’s like to work with us!
Past lab members
Asier Bracho (Research technician, Aug 2023-July 2026)
Riya Srivastava (Undergraduate researcher, Aug 2025-May 2026)
Harshitha Gompa (Undergraduate researcher, Jan 2025-May 2026)
Ashley Fulmer (Undergraduate researcher, Aug 2024-May 2026)
Eliza Lichtman (Undergraduate researcher, Aug 2024-Dec 2025)
Neha Garlapati (Undergraduate researcher, Jan 2024-Dec 2025)
Kai Fluet (Graduate student, May 2025-Nov 2025)
Maddi Laubscher (Research technician, Jun 2022-Jul 2024)
Rachel Rutkowski (Undergraduate researcher, Aug 2022-Dec2023)
Maria Ramos (Undergraduate researcher [MIDS], Oct 2021-May 2022)
Darian Doakes (Research technician, Aug 2020-Jul 2022)
Silvia Giampapa (Research technician, Aug 2020-Jan 2021)
