Marienela Heredia

Marienela earned her B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where she first discovered her passion for microbiology research in Dr. Jason Rauceo’s lab. Her undergraduate research focused on elucidating cellular stress response mechanisms in the human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. She then went on to earn her PhD in Cellular & Molecular Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Dr. Laura Knoll’s lab. Her graduate work focused on modeling interactions between commensal protists, the host immune system, and the gut microbiome in mice using Entamoeba and Tritrichomonas spp. Now, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Caballero-Flores lab, Marienela is excited to investigate how host immunity and the gut microbiome influence colonization resistance to bacterial enteric pathogens, especially in the context of EPEC/EHEC.

Outside the Lab: Besides being a lab rat, Marienela is also a huge foodie, certified cat lady, and a K-pop enthusiast. You’ll often find her spending quality time at home with her family and five cats, scoping out hidden gems in the Madison restaurant scene, raiding your local thrift store for flannels, or dancing at a K-pop concert.

Guilty Pleasures: Marienela’s guilty pleasures include binge watching Korean dramas and spending an ungodly amount on iced lattes despite having a perfectly functional coffee machine right next to her desk. She also can’t resist cheese or ice cream of any kind and will choose to ignore her lactose intolerance every time.