Brian Ferrari is a research assistant in the Sieg lab working primarily on HIV reactivation assays. Brian is also the primary technician for the immune function core in charge of overseeing machines such as: Odyssey infrared imager, AutoMACS pro cell sorter, RoboSEP cell separator, Bio-Rad S3e cytometer and cell sorter, BD LSRFortessa, and ELISA VERSAmax plate reader. Brian has a degree in biotechnology out of Lakeland Community college and is currently continuing his education by pursuing a B.S. in Biology part time at Case Western Reserve University.
Bonnie Chen is a medical student at the CWRU School of Medicine. She earned her B.S. in Global Health and B.A. in Neuroscience in 2012 from the University of Southern California. Following undergrad, she acted as community engagement and fundraising coordinator for Yoga Behind Bars, a non-profit based in Seattle, WA. Her inspiration for pursuing medicine and HIV research stems from her service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia, where she supported community leaders to more effectively lead HIV prevention trainings and campaigns. She currently works with Dr. Michael Freeman and Dr. Soumya Panagrahi in the lab to explore the interactions between endothelial cells and CD8 T cells that may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk in individuals living with HIV.