Siva Sankari, Ph.D.
Assistant Investigator
Team
Team
Click each profile below to learn more about our team members.
Francisco (Paco) Guerra Garcia
Predoctoral Researcher
B.S., Biotechnology, Pablo de Olavide University, Spain
Joined: 2023
Profile
Current work: establishing gene engineering tools in soil bacteria and studying host peptides in legumes-bacteria symbiosis
Hobbies: I enjoy both doing sports and spending time at home listening to music, playing videogames or watching shows and movies
Gabriel Herrera Prieto
Graduate Researcher
Sankari Lab
University of Córdoba - Science Faculty
Biology Degree
Profile
Background
I do not have an extensive research background as I’ve just finished my degree. However during it I’ve made some extracurricular internships and I have some experience working with human cells and tissues (I was working with fat cells at the IMIBIC testing unknown secondary effects of two retroviral drugs), plant physiology ( In the University of Cordoba I studied the role of nucleic acids as an energy reserve and the effect of salt stress on the expression of several genes in the common bean.) and ecology (I used to manage a Lesser Kestrel in my hometown and I also went bird banding on the weekends).
Current research
Right now, I am at the Stowers Institute in Kansas City as a graduate researcher in Sankari
Lab. So far, I have conducted growth studies of S. meliloti treated with different concentrations of various peptides such as NCR 247 or NCR 086. I am currently carrying out a study similar to the previous ones but on a larger scale and I have also started a new project in which I will try to characterize the NCR 247 resistance genes of B. japonicum.
Hobbies
I really enjoy doing any kind of sports, especially those I can practice outdoors although I also enjoy lifting weights at the gym. I also love nature so whenever I have the chance, I go to the countryside or to the mountains. And of course I'm really into video games.
Madison Mitchell
Research Technician I
Sankari Lab
Bachelor of Science in Plant Sciences – Minor in Mathematics
Profile
I am a recent University of Missouri graduate with training in the areas of Plant Science and Mathematics. My passions and interests lie within the realm of biology, specifically plants’ interactions with biotic and abiotic factors. My hope is to utilize my current skills in concert with my thirst for knowledge to create informed change in the world around me through deciphering the mechanisms of these interactions. My current project in the Sankari Lab aims to unravel the mechanism of bacteroid terminal differentiation through the use of a diverse panel of 86 S. meliloti strains in tandem with NCR peptides. When not in the lab, I enjoy binge watching new TV shows, reading, and anything to do with my two cats. View CV
Erika Pinto
Predoctoral Researcher
B.S., Biological Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, Ecuador
M.S., Laboratory Technology, Technical Particular University of Loja, Ecuador
Joined: 2023
Profile
In my undergrad and master’s degree I studied cell regeneration and toxicology in Ecuador, where I am from. Currently I am passionate about understanding fundamental biology and how it can be used for clinical and industrial applications. I have a particular interest in exploring how the symbiotic relationship between alfalfa and bacteria may parallel the interactions between pathogenic bacteria and their human hosts. In my free time I enjoy training different dance styles and learning new languages. View CV
Stephanie Sage
Research Technician II
Sankari Lab
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Minor in Environmental Science and Conservation, May 2021 - The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Associate of Arts, December 2016 - St. Charles Community College, Cottleville, MO
Profile
In the Sankari Lab, I work as a manager and research technician II which supports our work investigating plant-microbe interactions. Previously, I worked in a Maize Developmental Biology lab for a few years studying genetic interactions related to stem cells. Next, I worked in a Plant Evolution and Ecology lab for a year, conducting transcriptomics to investigate telomere’s role in the speciation of native Hawaiian trees. At Stowers, I maintain the plant specimens and conduct experiments on isolating bacteroids from inoculated Medicago nodules, which helps us understand the symbiotic relationship of nitrogen fixation. In my free time I enjoy painting, nature, reading, and exploring new places in Kansas City with friends. View CV
Siva Sankari
Assistant Investigator
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Cell Biology, Genetics and Genomics, Molecular and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Host-Microbe Interaction, Plant-Microbe Symbiosis, Metal Homeostasis
Courses Taught
Cell Biology; Laboratory Rotation; Thesis Laboratory
Profile
Siva Sankari, Ph.D., a biochemist, microbiologist, and plant biologist, joined the Stowers Institute in 2023 as an Assistant Investigator. Her research involves the beneficial interaction between plants and microbes, and how this translates to therapeutic applications.
Vikram Venugopal
Graduate Researcher
Sankari Lab
Bachelor of Science - Master of Science (BS-MS) Dual Degree - Majors in Biology, Minors in Chemistry (August 2020 – Present)
Profile
Hi! My name is Vikram – I’m here at the Sankari Lab doing my master’s thesis project on investigating protein-protein interactions between host plant peptides that their symbiotic bacterial targets to figure out the role these peptides play in establishing and maintaining symbiosis. In science, I’m interested in the broad field of host-microbe interactions – from the evolution of the immune system to granulomas formed by the TB bacterium, I’m fascinated by the wonders that hosts and pathogens have evolved to gain the upper hand. In my free time, you might find me in the kitchen baking, attempting to get out of an escape room, or simply rotting in bed watching an entire season of my favorite TV show (for the 10th time). View CV