Hwan Kim

Hwan Kim Assistant Professor

Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Ph.D., University of Chicago, 2011

E-mail:
Office:
Fax:

Hwan.Kim@stonybrook.edu
(631) 632-8782
(631) 632-9797

 

Publications

Lab Website


Research

We study various aspects of host-vector-pathogen interactions, with specific emphasis on tick-borne rickettsial organisms. In particular, we are deeply interested in identifying microbial and host genes important for the rickettsial intracellular lifecycles and determining the underlying molecular mechanisms associated with pathogenesis, tick transmission, and host immune evasion. Our four main focus areas are: 1) developing transposon mutant libraries for Rickettsia to identify genes important for rickettsial survival in mammalian hosts and arthropod vectors, 2) defining rickettsial immune evasion mechanisms in vascular endothelial cells, 3) monitoring native and invasive tick populations and documenting their interactions with tick-borne pathogens, and 4) understanding immunological responses to tick bites and pathogen transmission in patients. Please visit our laboratory website for additional information.

 

Lab Members

Research Assistant Professor

Ilia Rochlin, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Cody Kempen, Ph.D. (co-mentored with Dr. Kumar)

Graduate Students

Luke Helminiak, B.S., Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Smruti Mishra, M.S., Molecular Genetics & Microbiology

Research Technicians

Yarim Lee, M.S.
Rhyan Melett, B.S.
Hara Seo, B.S.

Undergraduate Students

Ana Barreira, Biology
Ivy Lu, Chemical and Molecular Engineering