Courtney Ellison
Principal Investigator
I am a microbiologist who loves exploring the invisible world of microbes that overlaps our own. Outside of the lab, I enjoy traveling to new places, hiking and camping, cat snuggling, and a good horror flick. I obtained a B.S. in microbiology at the University of Georgia in 2013 (go Dawgs!) and a Ph.D. in microbiology from Indiana University in 2019. I did my postdoctoral training at Princeton University from 2019-2022.
Riley Ellison
Undergraduate Researcher
Riley is a first-year undergraduate at the University of Georgia majoring in Biological Engineering. She is heavily interested in tissue and cellular engineering and is excited to conduct research at the Ellison lab! Aside from science, Riley enjoys playing video games, reading, hiking, and language learning.
Taylor Ellison
Lab Manager
Taylor graduated with her B.S. degree in biological sciences from the University of Georgia in 2015. She worked in the field of wildlife disease before going on to receive her M.S. in regenerative biosciences in 2022, where she worked specifically with stem cells and extracellular vesicles. She aims to continue her career in advancing scientific research for the Ellison lab for the foreseeable future. In her free time, Taylor enjoys writing, reading, hiking, and spending time with her family.
Logan LaFave
Graduate Student
Logan obtained a B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2023. During his undergrad he studied the genetic diversity within the Staphylococcus genus, with a focus on MRSA and Staphylococcus argenteus. He is now working towards his PhD in the Ellison lab, where his interests lie in microbial interactions. Outside of lab, Logan enjoys lifting weights, spending time with loved ones, and taking time to just relax!
Ben Whisnant
Graduate Student
Ben graduated with a B.S. in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia in 2021. He was a lab tech for a year working on parasites in the CTEGD at UGA before being accepted as a PhD student in 2022. Ben enjoys spending time by playing videogames, spending time with friends and family, hiking, and snuggling with his cats. He is very excited to do his PhD in the Ellison lab studying pilus systems in various microorganisms!
You?
We are recruiting graduate students for Fall of 2024! We are also looking for a postdoctoral researcher and laboratory technician. Please contact us for more information.