LAB MEMBERS
Our collaborative and productive group benefits from the diverse backgrounds, professional experiences, and research focuses of each individual.
UTPAL PAL, PH.D.
Principal Investigator
Dr. Pal has led this lab since 2006, when he first brought his tick-borne disease studies to the University of Maryland. Since then, he has secured numerous grants in support of his research, published in high-impact and peer-reviewed journals, and mentored dozens of students and junior scientists, among other professional accomplishments in the field of vector-borne diseases. Dr. Pal enjoys reading, traveling, and listening to music.
XIULI YANG, PH.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Dr. Yang received her Immunology Ph.D. degree from Fudan University in China. Since joining the Pal Lab in 2007, her research interest focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of Lyme disease. Dr. Yang seeks to reveal the mechanisms by which the pathogen survives in hosts and causes the disease.
CHRYSOULA KITSOU, PH.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Drawing on her background in biotechnology and reproductive biology, Dr. Kitsou entered our lab in 2018. She leads several projects aimed towards the development of therapeutic or preventive strategies. Her work includes a focus on transgenics in rodent models of Lyme disease. Dr. Kitsou likes to read (especially about philosophy), dance, and travel.
VIPIN RANA, PH.D.
Assistant Research Scientist
Dr. Rana obtained his Ph.D. degree from the University of Delhi in India. He joined the Pal lab in September 2018 and is currently working as Assistant Research Scientist. His project involves discovering the mechanisms of cross-species signaling between the Ixodes scapularis tick and its mammal host. Dr. Rana also focuses on understanding the tick innate immune responses regulated by JAK/STAT pathway. He enjoys listening to music, traveling, and exploring new places.
KATHRYN NASSAR, B.S.
Research Coordinator
After graduating from UMD with a Bachelor's degree in Biology, Kathryn worked with wildlife and led a conservation program. Now, she is fortunate to have worked with the Pal lab since 2019, where she handles administrative duties and oversees the day-to-day activities of the lab. Kathryn loves animals, is a fan of baseball and ice hockey, and enjoys traveling.
MIN ZHANG, PH.D.
Faculty Specialist
Dr. Zhang received his Ph.D. degree from Fudan University. He has more than 10 years of research experience in the field of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis and malaria. He entered our group in January 2019. Dr. Zhang's current research interest focuses on tick immunity.
OLEKSANDRA KEPPLE, D.V.M., PH.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Kepple joined our lab in 2021. Her research interests focus on understanding host-pathogen interactions for developing new vaccine or therapeutic strategies against Lyme disease. Dr. Kepple likes dancing, oil painting, and traveling.
SONIA SHARMA, PH.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Sharma obtained her Ph.D. from Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, India. She joined the
Pal lab in July 2023 as a Postdoctoral Associate and is currently studying the proteins implicated
in infection of Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative organism of Lyme disease in mammals.
KAZI ANTARA, M.SC
Graduate Student, Ph.D-track
Before starting as a Ph.D. student in Dr. Pal's lab, Kazi earned her MS and BS (Hons) in Microbiology at the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh. She entered the Pal Lab in 2019, where she is examining the Ixodes scapularis tick - the vector of Lyme disease - with a focus on the genetic regulation of tick blood meal digestion.
MICHAEL RONZETTI, B.S.
Graduate Student, Ph.D-track
(Graduate Partnership Program with NIH)
Michael is a graduate student split between the Pal Lab (which he joined in 2019) and the National Institutes of Health/National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Graduate Partnership Program (under the mentorship of Dr. Anton Simeonov), working on elucidating and finding inhibitors for druggable targets in Borrelia burgdorferi and related spirochetes. Outside of this fascinating work, he enjoys publishing scientific communication in biotech and business of science, and mountaineering/ bouldering in his free time.
BIBEK BHATTACHAN, BVSC
Graduate Student, Ph.D-track
Bibek joined the Pal lab as a Ph.D. student in 2021. Previously, his academic and professional life focused on veterinary and animal sciences. Bibek now supports our mission by helping to investigate the pathogenesis of Lyme disease. In addition to research, he likes to travel and explore new places.
KRUTHI VAVILIKOLANU, B.TECH.
Graduate Student, Ph.D-track
Kruthi came to our lab in May 2021, after earning a Bachelor of Technology degree in biotechnology from the Vellore Institute of Technology in India. Now, Kruthi investigates the molecular mechanisms behind Lyme disease transmission. Outside of research, her interests lie in curling up with a good book while listening to music or spending time doing puzzles. She enjoys going to museums and historical places.
RACHEL LIPMAN, B.S.
Graduate Student, Ph.D-track
Rachel earned her B.S. in Microbiology from UCLA in 2019. As a Los Angeles, California native, she is thankful to have survived her first real winter season here, and is excited to continue her education at UMD in the Biological Sciences Molecular and Cellular Biology (BISI) program. Outside of lab, you may find her exploring nature, visiting museums, and spending time with family and friends.
SHALKA LANKA ACHARIGE, B.SC
Faculty Assistant
Shalka is a Medical Laboratory Science graduate from Sri Lanka. His passion for research drove him to study leptospirosis in SL, as well as leptospirosis, malaria and Lyme disease at Yale University. He joined the Pal Lab in 2023 as a Faculty Assistant, where his experiments will focus on the development of novel diagnostic studies against Lyme disease. Shalka derives joy from his hobbies of singing and creating pencil sketches.
JULIA GROEN
Laboratory Research Assistant
Julia is currently majoring in Microbiology at UMD and joined the Pal lab in 2023. Outside of the lab, she plays on UMD's club rugby team and enjoys crocheting, working out, and learning Dutch on Duolingo.