Woolsey Lab

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch

Dr. Woolsey is a BSL-4 virologist whose research focuses on high-consequence pathogens, pandemic preparedness, and immune correlates of protection. Her lab integrates advanced immunological techniques, organ-on-chip platforms, spatial biology, and systems immunology to inform next-generation vaccines and therapeutics.

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

My research centers on high-consequence viral pathogens. My doctoral work examined Ebola virus pathogenesis, transmission dynamics, and diagnostics, and I now leading the single-cell sequencing efforts of our group within the UNVEIL project to define immune correlates of protection against Lassa fever. I also apply my expertise in high-containment virology and molecular diagnostics to support outbreak response with Médecins Sans Frontières and the World Health Organization, deploying to Ebola-affected regions to strengthen local laboratory capacity. My broader interests include field-adapted diagnostics, biosurveillance, and the development of public-health-focused countermeasures for pathogens with limited commercial incentives. Outside the lab, I can be found at the gym in order to keep up with my energetic red tri Australian Shepherd.

RESEARCH SCIENTIST

I help keep the Woolsey Lab running smoothly by training new staff and maintaining high standards of lab practice and safety. I’m responsible for onboarding and mentoring team members so they can confidently perform complex workflows in high-containment virology and organ-on-chip systems. I also play an active role in our USDA NACA–funded projects, where I support experimental planning, protocol optimization, and data quality to ensure the work stays on track and meets regulatory expectations.

POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

I’m leading efforts in the Woolsey Lab to develop and optimize lymph node–on-a-chip models that let us study immune responses to high-consequence viruses in a controlled, physiologic setting. In parallel, I run several projects within our USDA NACA–funded program, coordinating experimental design, data generation, and troubleshooting across collaborators. I’m particularly interested in viral persistence—how viruses evade or reshape host immunity over time—and I’m using advanced organ-on-chip platforms and immunologic assays to better understand these long-term host–pathogen interactions.

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

OLINGER LAB

I’m a research associate and the unofficial “lab momma” of the Woolsey Lab, helping keep our day-to-day operations organized and running smoothly. I support experiments at the bench, coordinate reagents and scheduling, and make sure people, samples, and protocols are where they need to be. Whether it’s troubleshooting a workflow, onboarding new team members, or handling behind-the-scenes logistics, I try to create a reliable, supportive environment so the rest of the team can focus on doing their best science.

GRADUATE STUDENT (Ph.D.)

I’m a graduate student in the Woolsey Lab developing neurovascular unit–on-a-chip models to study how henipaviruses and herpesviruses interact with the brain and its barrier systems. As part of the INVADE project, I use these platforms to dissect how viral infection disrupts the neurovascular unit, contributes to neuroinflammation, and may drive long-term neurologic disease. By combining advanced organ-on-chip technology with virology and immunology, I’m working to better understand—and ultimately help prevent—virus-induced brain injury.

GRADUATE STUDENT (Ph.D.)

My research is focused on how high consequence emerging and re-emerging viruses like Ebola and Marburg affect the placenta during infection. Using advanced lab models that mimic the maternal–fetal interface, I explore how infections begin, how the immune system responds, and what makes the placenta susceptible to these infections. My goal is to help improve health outcomes for pregnant individuals during severe viral diseases. When I’m not in the lab, I love exploring the outdoors, experimenting with food, or planning my next trip abroad (in 10 more years).

GRADUATE STUDENT (Ph.D.)

I am a third-year Microbiology and Immunology PhD student at UTMB, co-mentored by Dr. Caitlin Cotter and Dr. Courtney Woolsey. Prior to my start at UTMB, I received in 2023 my bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Dallas. Currently, my research interests lie at the intersection of epidemiology and immunology as it pertains to Lassa fever in pregnant women, identifying the epidemiological and immunological correlates of severe Lassa infection in pregnant individuals while also working to design more rapid diagnostic tools for Lassa. When not in the lab, I enjoy working as a co-host on the Infectious Science Podcast, hiking, going to the opera, playing board games, and reading more books about world history and geopolitics.

GRADUATE STUDENT (Ph.D.)

CO-MENTOR DR. GEORGIY GOLOVKO

I’m a graduate student in the Woolsey Lab working on the UNVEIL project, where I use single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning to dissect immune responses to Lassa virus. My work focuses on identifying cellular states and transcriptional programs that distinguish protection from severe disease, with the goal of defining robust immune correlates that can guide vaccine and therapeutic development. By integrating complex datasets across patients, animal models, and time points, I’m helping to build a systems-level view of antiviral immunity in high-consequence infections.

CONSULTANT/COORDINATOR

I’m a consultant and project coordinator supporting the INVADE work in the Woolsey Lab, helping keep our complex, multi-partner efforts organized and moving forward. I work behind the scenes to align timelines, deliverables, and communication across collaborators, making sure scientific, regulatory, and administrative pieces stay in sync. By managing logistics and coordination for INVADE, I help the team stay focused on the science while we build a clearer understanding of how viral infections contribute to neurodegeneration.