LAB PERSONNEL
JUDITH BEHNSEN, PHD
Principle Investigator
Established the lab in October 2016.
Dr. Behnsen completed her doctoral training from the Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany and her post-doctoral training from the University of California, Irvine. Not only is she fascinated by the microbial world in the gut, but she also loves to dive in her spare time.
KANCHAN JASWAL
PhD, Postdoctoral Associate
Joined in June 2021.
Kanchan grew up in the hills of Shimla, right on the southern range of the Himalayas. She received her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Mohali, India, where she studied bacterial cell physiology. Although bacterial metabolism will always stay dear to her, she followed her passion for studying host-microbial interaction and joined the Behnsen lab for postdoctoral training. She will now focus on how bacterial-fungal interaction affects the host. She likes to travel, do yoga/meditation, and watch animes.
OLIVIA TODD
PhD, Postdoctoral Associate
Joined in July 2021.
Olivia is from Mobile, Alabama, and got her BS in chemistry and in microbiology from Mississippi State University. She did her PhD at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, focusing on the interaction of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus in polymicrobial intra-abdominal infections. She likes to garden, cook, and hang out with her cat. She is a really big One Direction fan.
ROBERTO FLORES
BS, GEMS PhD Student
Joined in May 2022.
Roberto is a fourth year PhD Student in the Behnsen lab studying Proteus mirabilis. When he is not in the lab you can find him visiting neighboring labs and chatting with fellow researchers. Maybe to scope out possible collaborations. He is also pretty good at Guitar Hero and is a fan of Sonic the Hedgehog.
KELLY PERFECTO
Research Specialist
Joined in May 2021.
Kelly was born in Dallas, Texas but has spent most of her life in Chicago, Illinois. She received her BS in Biology and BA in French from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. She is enjoying helping out the Behnsen lab continue their research on different microbe interactions/relationships. In her free time she loves playing with her two cats and dog. She is always open to new horror/thriller movie recommendations.
MICHAEL TRAN
Undergraduate Researcher
Joined in October 2024.
Michael Tran is a senior undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Chicago, majoring in Biological Sciences. He hopes to pursue a PhD with the goal of becoming a researcher dedicated to uncovering novel mechanisms of microbial pathogenesis. Michael enjoys learning about bacterial pathogenesis and microbiome interactions. Outside the lab, Michael enjoys playing guitar, reading, discovering new cafés, and he is a really big fan of IVE.
CIERA DUFFY
BS, GEMS PhD Student
Joined in May 2024.
Ciera is a second year GEMS student in Judith Behnsen’s lab studying cross-kingdom interactions between Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans. She is interested in how the resident gut microbiome impacts health and disease, such as infection with Salmonella. In her free time, she likes to play games, get outside, or spend time with her cats.
ED ESHOO
MS, GEMS PhD Student
Joined in May 2024.
Ed is a second year PhD Student in the Behnsen lab. Ed's research interests broadly include the study of microbial evolution, pathogenesis, and the use of alternative treatments to combat the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. His previous research experience investigated the use of bacteriophages as a potential antimicrobial strategy for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. His work in the Behnsen lab focuses on how Salmonella deploys its type three secretion system against a common commensal fungus, Candida albicans. Ed enjoys staying active in his free time, hanging out with friends and family, and watching movies.
KIMBERLY CISNEROS
BS, GEMS PhD Student
Joined in May 2025.
Kimberly received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Georgia in 2023. After finishing her degree, she completed a post-baccalaureate program in 2024 at the University of Georgia. Kimberly is a rising second-year GEMS PhD student who joined the Behnsen lab in 2025 where she is studying cross-kingdom interactions between Salmonella Typhimurium and Candida albicans. She enjoys playing with her two cats, video games, and gardening.