Current lab members
Chris Geyer, Ph.D. (PI)
Chris grew up in central VA and completed a B.S. in Biology at Virginia Tech. After graduation, he worked for four years for two small biotechnology companies (PPL Therapeutics and CropTech Biosciences). He left the mountains of VA to pursue a Ph.D. at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio in the laboratory of John McCarrey. After graduation, Chris then joined Mitch Eddy’s laboratory as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in Research Triangle Park, NC. In 2010, he started his lab in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
Email: geyerc@ecu.edu
Bryan Niedenberger (Research Technician)
Bryan Niedenberger grew up in Yorktown, Virginia. Before joining the Geyer lab as a Research Technician, Bryan received a bachelor’s degree from High Point University and a Master’s degree from Appalalchian State.
Email: niedenbergerb@ecu.edu
Emma Gilbert (Ph.D. student)
Emma grew up in Barboursville, Virginia. In 2021, Emma graduated from James Madison University (JMU) with a B.S. in Health Sciences. During her time at JMU, Emma served as a student-athlete tutor and as a peer leader in epidemiology courses. Emma now is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at East Carolina University. Some of her hobbies include collecting coffee mugs, completing jigsaw puzzles, and visiting aquariums.
Email: gilbertem21@students.ecu.edu
Grace grew up in Idaho Falls, Idaho before attending the University of Idaho and earning her B.S in microbiology. She enjoys playing golf, painting, and playing with her cat during her free time.
Email: neiswangerg23@students.ecu.edu
Matthew Thomas (postbac researcher)
Matthew grew up in Salisbury, North Carolina. He was a student in the Honors College at East Carolina University who graduated with a B.S. in Biology in May 2024. Matthew is doing research in the Geyer lab and will enter medical school in fall 2025.
Email: thomasma21@students.ecu.edu
Former lab members
Dr. Heather Belcher (ECU postdoctoral scholar, 2023-2024), Teaching Assistant Professor, ECU Physics Department
Ms. Jasmine Jenkins (Master’s student 2022-2023), Student, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine.
Dr. Taylor Johnson (Ph.D. student 2018-2022), Teaching Assistant Professor, Anatomy & Cell Biology Department, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
Dr. Oleksandr “Sasha” Kirsanov (Ph.D. student 2018-2022), Field Application Scientist, Meso Scale Diagnostics
Dr. Benjamin Hale (ECU postdoctoral scholar, 2019-2022), Innovation Analyst, RTI Innovation Advisors, Raleigh, NC
Ms. Taylor Malachowski (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2017-2021), doctoral student in Dr. Sheila Stewart’s laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Mr. William “Will” Miller (ECU Master’s student, Biomedical Engineering (2021-2023)
Ms. Megan Pallozzi (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2020-2021), class of 2024, University of Georgia School of Veterinary Medicine
Dr. Nicholas “Nick” Serra (Ph.D. student 2014-2019), Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. Meera Sundaram’s laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Ms. Jamie Chamberlin (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2017-2019), class of 2025, Brody School of Medicine at ECU
Dr. Ellen (formerly Velte) Harrington (Ph.D. student, 2013-2018), Technical sales specialist, Bioprocess Engineering Solutions (UK)
Dr. Kenneth "Trey" Cook (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2014-2017), 2021 graduate of the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine and now Associate Veterinarian, Valley Veterinarians, Inc, Tulare, CA
Dr. Jonathan “Jon” Busada (Ph.D. student, 2011-2015), Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology, West Virginia University School of Medicine
Dr. Kate McPherson (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2013), 2020 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dental Medicine
Ms. Evelyn Kaye (ECU undergraduate researcher, 2012-2014)
Dr. Vesna Chappell (postdoctoral scholar, 2010-2013), Biologist in Sue Fenton's lab, Reproductive Endocrinology Group, NIEHS