Meet The Team
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Draganova, Ph.D.
Role: Principal Investigator/Assistant Professor
Research interests: all things self assembly, antivirals, and weird proteins
When I'm not in lab: I enjoy spending time with my partner, two kids, kickboxing, running and trying new foods!
Alternate reality career: Nancy Drew
Pronouns: she/hers
Photography Credit: Gigi Arias
POSTDOCS
Tayebeh Latifi, Ph.D.
Role: Postdoctoral Researcher
Research interests: Herpesviruses and rotaviruses
When I'm not in lab: I enjoy painting and watching movies.
Alternate reality career: Artist (painting)!
Pronouns: she/hers
Shea Lowery, Ph.D. (Sarafianos Lab @ Emory)
Role: Postdoctoral Researcher (NIH NRSA F32)
Research interests: Viral pathogenesis, molecular virology, and innate immunity.
When I'm not in lab: I like to read, garden, and spend time with my husband and baby girl.
Alternate reality career: Gardener
Pronouns: she/hers
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Scott-Wesley Bean
Role: BBSB Graduate Student (Second Year)
Research interests: HCMV nuclear egress, structural biology, biophysics, virology, pathology, drug development
When I'm not in lab: Weightlifting, dining, crafts, walking trails, music
Alternate reality career: Forensics or detective
Pronouns: He/Him
Sarah Gordon
Role: BBSB Graduate Student (Second Year)
Research interests: KSHV capsid assembly, phase separation, protein biochemistry
When I'm not in lab: I like to draw and crochet
Alternate reality career: CSI
Pronouns: she/her
LAB STAFF
Jeremy Hunn
Role: Lab Manager
Research interests: Protein engineering, genetics, and learning more about virology
When I'm not in lab: Cycling, hiking, photography, reading, designing board games, music
Alternate reality career: Professional cyclist
Pronouns: he/him
Ananya Paul, PhD
Role: Staff Scientist
Research interests: Biophysics and chemistry of non-canonical nucleic acid structures
When I'm not in lab: gardening and spending quality time with family and friends
Alternate reality career: Astronomer
Pronouns: she/hers
ROTATION STUDENTS
Anna Pan
Role: BBSB Rotation Student
Research interests: Protein biochemistry and chemical biology
When I'm not in lab: play games (a few faves: Baldur's Gate 3, Stardew Valley, Ace Attorney), go bowling, and drink boba
Alternate reality career: Defense attorney
Pronouns: she/hers
Interested in joining us?
The Draganova Lab is a part of the BBSB Program at WashU!
Send an email to draganova@wustl.edu