WCSU Tick Lab
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Lab Members

Our lab functions because of the hard work of research staff and student interns who work throughout the year to help collect data and keep our projects moving forward.
If you’re interested in learning more about seasonal student internships and/or other opportunities to work on tickborne disease prevention projects at WCSU, click
here.
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Neeta Pardanani Connally

Principal Investigator
CSU Distinguished Professor
WCSU Biology Department
​Check out my Bio



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Sophia Chiaia

WCSU Integrative Biological Diversity M.S.  '26

​Graduate Student Research Assistant


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​Sandra Zapata Ramirez, M.S.

WCSU Biology '19, Integrative Biological Diversity '25
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Laboratory Study Coordinator

​Bio
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Erin Graham

WCSU Biology B.A. '25

​Summer Research Assistant


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Hannah McCabe
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WCSU Biology B.A. '26

​Summer Research Assistant


​Bio
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Lindsay Kirkness
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WCSU Biology B.A. '25

​Summer Research Assistant


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Alyza Weisman

McGill B.A. '26

​Summer Research Assistant


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Fran Tick
​Lab "Manager"

​Bio


WCSU Tickborne Disease Prevention Lab Student Research Alumni

​Zoe Blad (U Buffalo Env Studies '26), Daniel Buser (Psychology '17), Barbara Campbell (Sociology), Sophia Chiaia (Biology '24), Heather Clark (UMass Biology '26), Vanele Dacosta (Biology '16), Melissa Dease (Biology '12), Melissa DiNino (Biology '14), Carina Doyle (NYU Biology), Payal Dudhedia (Biology '16), Karina Escobar (Biology '16), AmberJean Hansen (Biology '14), Olivia Heineken (Biology '25), Socheata Lim (Biochemistry '14), Jake Lipinski (Biology '17), Kim Lockwood (Biology '17), Christopher Madden (Biology), JT Martin (Biology '24), Megan Morrow (Biology '15), Devin Norkowski (Psychology), Colin O’Brien (Biology '16), Bruna Oliveira (Biology '15), Kyle Paist (SNHU Environmental Science '24), Christa Piccorelli (Biology '25), Dimitri Psaltos (Boston Univ. Biomed Engin '15), Jennifer Reid (Health Promotion '13), Chantal Ridlon (Biology '14), Esau Rojas (Biology '15), Brittany Schappach (Biology '18), Kiran Singh-Smith (Barnard Coll. Env Sciences, '19), Amanda Thompson (UNH Biology '18), Karen Thompson (Biology '12), Robert Toth III (Biology '17), Layra Valdes (Biochemistry '19), Rebecca Warren (Biology '16), Skye Zalenski (MS, IBD '24), Sandra Zapata Ramirez (Biology '18, MS IBD '25).

Contact Information

Science Building 139
Western Connecticut State University
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences
181 White Street
​Danbury, CT 06810
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