Immunology & Molecular Microbiology Principal Investigators
Meet Our Principal Investigators and Explore Their Research
Sharilyn Almodovar, Ph.D
Dr. Sharilyn Almodovar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. Her research interests include Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), vascular remodeling, and Covid-19. Learn more about Dr. Almodovar and her research here.
Robert Bright, Ph.D
Dr. Robert Bright is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. His research interests include cancer vaccination targeting overexpressed oncogenic tumor-self antigens. Learn more about Dr. Bright and his research here.
Joe Fralick, PhD.
Dr. Fralick is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. Learn more about Dr. Fralick and his research here.
Matthew Grisham, Ph.D
Dr. Grisham is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. His research interests include assessing the roles of innate and adaptive immune cells in the immuno-pathogenesis of Graft vs. Host Disease and the role of the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease. Learn more about Dr. Grisham and his research here.
Abdul Hamood, Ph.D
Dr. Hamood is a Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. His research interests include mechanisms through which serum represses and then enhances the expression of PAO1 QS and QS-controlled virulence genes. Learn more about Dr. Hamood and his research here.
Soo Chan Lee, Ph.D
Dr. Soo Chan Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, Texas. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Biology and Microbiology, respectively, from Kyung Hee University in Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Lee later pursued a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with a focus on mycology at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, where he conducted research on fungal morphogenesis under the mentorship of Dr. Brian D. Shaw, utilizing the model organism Aspergillus nidulans. During his doctoral studies, Dr. Lee was awarded the Graduate Student Excellence Award and the Robert Nicholson Endowed Fellowship. Learn more about Dr. Lee and his research here.
Dawei Li, Ph.D
Dr. Li is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. His prior research has led to the identification of dozens of disease-associated genes. Many of the findings have been applied to translational research in both academia and industry. His recent focus is to develop novel approaches and bioinformatics for genomic research and its applications in various diseases and health. Learn more about Dr. Li and his research here.
Afzal Siddiqui, M.Phil., Ph.D
Dr. Siddiqui serves as Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. He also serves as the sole Director of the Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases. His research interests include Parasitology; Vaccine discovery, development and testing for human parasite Schistosoma mansoni; Stronglyloides stercoralis and hyperinfection. Learn more about Dr. Siddiqui and the Center for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases here.
Mumtaz Yaseen, Ph.D
Dr. Yaseen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology. His research interests are to improve existing and develop novel anti exhaustion therapies against chronic viral and parasitic infections focusing on restoring cytokine axis of exhaustion. This includes research into T and NK cell exhaustion. Learn more about Dr. Yaseen and his research here.