LAB MEMBERS
Michelle R. Gibbs
Principal Investigator
My career in microbiology began at Miami University in Ohio, where I studied pathogenesis in Mycoplasma. I earned my PhD from Ohio State University, focusing on the role of translational GTPases in ribosome assembly. I completed two postdoctoral fellowships at NIH and UCLA as an IRACDA fellow. Throughout my career, I have taught courses in microbiology, biochemistry, and biology at Wittenberg University and California State University, Los Angeles. I am broadly interested in microbial adaptation to nutrient stress, genetic regulation, and ribosome assembly and function. I started my position as Assistant Research Professor in January 2024.
Pierce Meinert
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Pierce Meinert, and I’m from here in Auburn, Alabama. I’m currently majoring in Microbiology with a specific interest in environmental microbiology and bioremediation. I joined the lab spring 2024, and it has been such a great experience! My future plans include attending a graduate program to continue researching and learning about these topics and eventually receive my PhD in environmental microbiology. War Eagle!
Tieran Sullivan
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Tieran Sullivan and I am from Davidson, North Carolina. I am a rising Junior at Auburn and I am pursuing a concurrent degree in Biomedical Sciences and History. After college, I hope to go onto med school and pursue my dream of becoming a doctor. I have been working with Dr. Gibbs and her lab for a little under a year now. In our lab, I am working on a new project I created that studies interactions between probiotics and resident gut bacteria.
Isaiah Fowler
Liam Brown
My name is Liam Brown, and I am a first-semester freshman from Spanish Fort, Alabama. I am beginning my major in Biomedical Sciences this fall. After my undergraduate studies, I plan to go to medical school, aspiring to become a surgeon in some capacity. I’m really passionate about microbiology and all sciences, and I love learning new things, especially in the lab. I recently joined Dr. Gibbs’ lab, and I’m extremely excited to conduct research and gain experience.
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Isaiah Fowler, and I will be continuing my sophomore year in the spring studying Neuroscience. In the lab my primary goal is to study metal toxicity in soil specifically regarding fertilizers. I joined the lab in March 2024 and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience thus far. My long-term goals are to attend graduate school and study either medicine or neuroscience.
Undergraduate Researcher
Katie Guillen
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Katie Guillen, and I am a junior from Birmingham, Alabama, majoring in Biomedical Sciences. I plan to further my education in dental school and pursue dentistry as a career. Last semester, I took a cell biology course, which exposed my passion for all things cell related! This semester will be my first experience working in the Gibbs lab, and I am thrilled about the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research and explore new discoveries.
Luke Paul
Undergraduate Researcher
I am from Nashville, TN, and I am majoring in Biomedical Sciences on the pre-med track. I joined Gibbs Lab as a junior in Fall 24 to work on a project stemming from my Cell Biology Lab course. I have really enjoyed my time so far and am looking forward to getting more involved with research in the coming semesters. After college, I hope to go to medical school and integrate research into my career as a physician.
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Isabelle Brogden
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Isabelle Brogden and I am from Lexington, Kentucky. I am a sophomore studying Laboratory Science with a minor in Spanish. I am excited to gain more knowledge about microbiology in this position and apply what I learn. My passion is for people and medicine. After college, I hope to fulfill my goal of becoming a doctor and helping underserved populations.
Zachary Hobbs
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Zach Hobbs and I am from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am currently a junior majoring in biomedical sciences. I recently joined Dr. Gibbs’s research lab after having an amazing experience in her cell bio lab. I’m excited to see what comes of our research involving gene YDR391C in yeast cells! After college I hope to attend dental school! Primary, I am excited to learn new skills this research will teach me and understand research process more deeply.
Thomas Spurling
Undergraduate Researcher
My name is Thomas Spurling, and I am a sophomore here at Auburn! I am a biomedical sciences major with a minor in business, and I hope to one day go to medical school and become a doctor. I joined the lab in the Spring of 2025 and feel very blessed to be a part of it! I cannot wait to learn more about microbes and how they can be changed due to stress or artificial modifications, and hope to one day use this knowledge to help people in the future.
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Natalie Reynolds
Undergraduate Researcher
I’m Natalie Reynolds, a freshman from Alpharetta, GA. This is my second semester of studying Biochemistry and my very first semester of working in the lab, and I couldn’t be more excited to dive into the world of research. This semester, I’ll be investigating some genes involved in ribosome assembly. I love using chemistry to understand cellular processes and I hope to pursue a research career after completing grad school.
Lab Alumni
Gracie Spurling - Fall 2024
John Michael Williamson - Summer 2024
Mackenzie Spencer - Summer 2024
Jordan White - Spring 2024