Personnel

Koji Barrette is a St. Louis Native and a current undergraduate student at Washington University in St. Louis. He is majoring in Economics and minoring in East Asian Languages and Cultures on the pre-med track. He hopes to attend medical school in the future and is excited to learn more about Pediatric Research and patient care in the Fritz Lab. At WashU, he is President of the Club Swim Team and the Sports Club Board. He is a big Seattle Seahawks Fan, and his hobbies include swimming, hiking, and playing with his dog, Millie.

Mary Boyle attended Saint Louis University where she graduated from the School of Nursing with a BSN and an MSN in the Nursing of Children. She is a certified clinical research coordinator (CCRC). She has worked as a research coordinator at Washington University for over 20 years. She has three children and likes to run, swim, practice yoga and hike at National Parks.

Lara Counts graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a BS in Natural Sciences. She is currently a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis pursuing a Master of Public Health with a specialization in Global Health. Her previous research experiences have been focused on microbiology and maternal and child health. In her free time she enjoys hiking, backpacking and exploring the city with her friends.

Sam Hayes grew up in an American, Midwest town too small for stoplights. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a BS in Biology and a curiosity in diseases. She then attended Saint Louis University and graduated with a Master of Public Health and a concentration in Epidemiology and Biosecurity Disaster Preparedness. When not working, Sam can be found baking macarons, seeking new coffee shops, and striving to cook every egg dish possible.

Lauren Hunstad grew up in St. Louis and is currently attending Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she is majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology. She is planning on a future career in research, in a chemistry or virology-related field. At Drake, she is in Women in STEM and Kappa Kappa Gamma, works in the chemistry stockroom, and serves as the VP of Membership Development on the Panhellenic Council. Outside of school her hobbies include spending time with family and friends, reading, and watching Formula 1.

Hannah Kinzer graduated from Lawrence University with a BA in Biology and completed her MPH at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She is currently pursuing her PhD in Public Health Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on equity and communication in infectious disease prevention. Her interests are informed by her experiences in immunobiology, epidemiologic surveillance, community-based participatory projects, and health communication research. Outside of her studies and research, you can find Hannah running, volunteering at community events, and trying new recipes.

Madison Martin-Giacalone graduated from Truman State University with a BS in Biology and a minor in Psychology. Madison is currently a masters student at St. Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice, where she is concentrating in Epidemiology and Maternal and Child Health. She grew up in the St. Louis area and is happy to be back home where she is close to family. Madison plans to pursue a career in research in perinatal epidemiology, and work to improve birth outcomes in the St. Louis area. In her free time, Madison enjoys taking her dog to the park, reading a good book, and riding horses.

Lauren graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan College with a BS in Chemistry. She moved to St. Louis in 2018 to attend Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice and graduated in May of 2020 with a Master of Public Health and a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She enjoys taking her dog to the park, hiking and spending time with friends and family.

Samik Partha grew up in Madison, WI, and is a huge Milwaukee Bucks fan. He is currently an undergraduate at Washington University as part of the University Scholars Program in Medicine and is majoring in biology and minoring in anthropology: global health. In the future, he looks forward to attending Washington University School of Medicine and exploring his interests in infectious diseases, cancer biology and immunology. Outside of work, Partha enjoys singing, riding his bike and volunteering at local food pantries.

Lisa Richardson graduated from Greenville College with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She continued her studies at Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health and received a certificate in Clinical Laboratory Science. In addition to working in the Fritz lab, she has worked in the Clinical Bacteriology Lab at St. Louis Children's Hospital for 20 years. She truly enjoys working along side with the Infectious Disease physician's. When not in the lab, she spends lots of quality time with her son Caleb and MissyAnn her adorable cat, gardening and spending time with friends and family.

Rinat Tal graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Anthropology: Global Health and the Environment and minors in Biology and Medical Humanities. She is continuing her studies with the goal of attending medical school in the next few years. Her interests and previous experience have centered around maternal and child health. When she is not working or studying, Tal enjoys singing, cooking and spending time in Forest Park.