Rafael Kroon Campos, Ph.D.
Principal investigator
Dr. Rafael Kroon Campos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University. Dr. Kroon Campos’ research focuses on arbovirus-host interactions, employing molecular biology techniques and containment procedures (biosafety level 3). He grew up in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he completed his B.S./B.Ed. in Biology (PUC-MG), and M.S. in Microbiology (UFMG) with Jonatas Santos Abrahão. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology with Mariano Garcia-Blanco and Shelton Bradrick at Duke University. He did his postdoctoral research at the University of Texas Medical Branch with Shannan Rossi and Scott Weaver. He was funded by the McLaughlin Foundation, the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, and an K99/R00 award from NIAID.
George Hundt
Laboratory technician
George is from Corpus Christi, Texas where he also attended Texas A&M University and earned a degree in Biology with a focus on Organismal Biology. Since then, he has worked in an industry lab in Michigan. In his free time, he enjoys painting miniatures, fishing, camping, and baking.
Ana Alice Pimenta Pereira, D.V.M.
Graduate student (BBS)
Ana is a first-year DVM seeking PhD student in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences (BBS) program at Cornell University. She earned her Veterinary Medicine degree from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil in July 2024. Her research interests include virology, immunology, and vaccine development, particularly within a One Health framework. She is also passionate about scientific communication. Outside the lab, she enjoys exploring nature, reading, and trying new foods.
Solomiia Khomandiak
Graduate student (BBS, rotation)
Solo is a PhD candidate in the Biological&Biomedical Sciences (BBS) program at Cornell. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Taras Shevchenko National University (Ukraine). Solo also worked as a research assistant in a virology lab for five years at Vanderbilt University (Nashville). In 2022, she earned a Master’s degree in immunology from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). Solo is passionate about virus-host interactions and is inspired by research on emerging viruses and viruses with pandemic potential in humans and animals. To stay energized and creative, Solo has a variety of hobbies and interests. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, walking in nature, reading, yoga, and cooking.
Bailey Lubinski, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Bailey received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where she majored in Biology and Entomology. During that time, she worked in Dr. Lyric Bartholomay’s lab doing research on RNAi in mosquitoes. She recently completed her PhD in Dr. Gary Whittaker’s lab in the BBS program at Cornell, where she investigated mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. In the Kroon Campos lab, she will combine her interests in viruses and mosquitos by researching arbovirus-host interaction!
Our Pets (click the image to see the photos)
