Dr. David Bernstein is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Vermont. His initial interest in computational modeling of complex systems developed while completing a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Vermont. He earned his PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, followed by Postdoctoral training at the University of California, Berkeley where he began studying metabolic processes in microbial communities. His research focuses on the use of computational models to organize scientific knowledge into predictive frameworks and he is fascinated by the genomic potential of the human microbiome. Outside of the lab he loves living in Vermont, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

Alexis Roberson graduated from UC Davis with a B.S in Chemical Engineering and started her career in industry at Terray Therapeutics, where she was introduced to computational tools for biological discovery. There, she was exposed to machine learning for studying protein and compound interactions, which sparked her passion for combining computational tools with biological systems. Alexis is particularly passionate about understanding the complex interactions within microbial communities and their impact on health, particularly during infant development. This passion drives her work in combining computational tools with biological data to uncover key insights into microbial dynamics. Outside of research, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends!

Frederick Senya is a fourth-year PhD student in Mathematical Sciences (Applied Mathematics) at the University of Vermont, advised by Dr. David Bernstein. He also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Mathematics. He earned his MS in Scientific Computing from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, where he developed a strong interest in the development and application of mathematical models to real-world problems. His current research focuses on developing mathematical models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms that integrate redox metabolism with the goal of limiting or disrupting biofilm growth. He believes the “M-cubed” lab is a great fit for any researcher interested in developing computational tools to better understand microbial ecosystems. Outside of academia, he enjoys playing soccer, video games and traveling.

Jacob Lacy is a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student whose research focus is the relationship between the human gut microbiome and ulcerative colitis through utilization of computational tools such as metabolic modeling. Jacob earned his B.S. in physics with a minor in biology at California State University, San Bernardino. Jacob's passion for research in ulcerative colitis stems from his personal struggles of having the disease and commitment to improve the lives of those with similar struggles. Outside research, Jacob enjoys fishing and hiking.

Chiamaka Ozigbo is a final-year Biomedical Engineering student at the University of Vermont with a minor in Mathematics developing expertise in computational systems biology and network visualization. Her research focuses on visualizing microbial metabolic simulations to understand how these interactions shape microbial communities within the human gut microbiome. Using Python programming, Jupyter notebooks, and Cytoscape, She develops computational pipelines to simplify complex microbial relationships. In addition to her research, Chiamaka serves as Vice President of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and Event Coordinator for the African Students Association at UVM. Beyond her research activities, Chiamaka enjoys music recording, playing musical instruments like the piano and drums, and has engineered sound for professional performances.

Kristof is a senior in Biomedical Engineering. He is working with the lab on his senior thesis exploring the use of consumer-resource models to understand the limitations of infering microbial interactions from microbial community samples. Outside of the lab he enjoys windsurfing and plays on the UVM ultimate frisbee team.

Ryan Siegel is a senior majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a growing interest in computational modeling and microbiome research. Their journey with the lab began after they were inspired to explore the prediction of butyrate production in the human gut. While Ryan's background is rooted in 3D design, they are now leveraging skills gained through coursework to advance their research. Outside of lab and classes, Ryan also loves to travel and hopes to travel to all 50 states, with only about 10 to go!