Neda Habibi Arejan, M.D. – PhD Candidate
Neda earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She decided to pursue a PhD because she is interested in solving fundamental problems related to infectious diseases and is currently in her fifth year.
Research: Neda works primarily with the protein Wag31, which is an essential polar regulator in mycobacteria. She is interested in elucidating the molecular mechanism of polar growth in mycobacterial cell using both genetic and biochemical methods.
Hobbies: Outside of lab, Neda likes to cook delicious food and tasty Persian pastries, read books and complete jigsaw puzzles. She especially enjoys spending time with animals and volunteering with local shelters to help them find loving forever-homes.
Neda Habibi Arejan, M.D. – PhD Candidate
Neda earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree from Qazvin University of Medical Sciences in Iran. She decided to pursue a PhD because she is interested in solving fundamental problems related to infectious diseases and is currently in her fifth year.
Research: Neda works primarily with the protein Wag31, which is an essential polar regulator in mycobacteria. She is interested in elucidating the molecular mechanism of polar growth in mycobacterial cell using both genetic and biochemical methods.
Hobbies: Outside of lab, Neda likes to cook delicious food and tasty Persian pastries, read books and complete jigsaw puzzles. She especially enjoys spending time with animals and volunteering with local shelters to help them find loving forever-homes.
Augusto Cesar Hunt Serracin, B.S. – PhD Candidate
Cesar was born and raised in Costa Rica, attended high school in San Francisco, CA, and ultimately graduated from UNT with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Prior to graduate school, he worked for Medical City and Baylor Healthcare systems as a Licensed Lab Technician.
He’s actually a founding member of the Boutte lab and joined as a lab and research assistant before transitioning into the PhD program. Cesar ultimately hopes to work in public health.
Research: As a lab/research assistant, Cesar’s first project, which was completed and published, focused on how different medium affect biofilm formation in Mycobacterium abscessus.
As a graduate student, his second project, and publication, was completed in 2022 which investigated the stress response mechanism in Mycobacterium abscessus.
Currently, Cesar is working on his third project and the main research for his dissertation. This project investigates the mycobacterial cell wall regulator CwlM. His current hypothesis is that CwlM regulates the synthesis of the peptidoglycan (PG) layer, which is the primary layer surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane of almost all bacteria. Current literature shows that this PG regulation occurs through multiple interactions with specific cell wall proteins. We believe that these interactions are driven by the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of CwlM. The goal of this project is to validate these interactions between CwlM and its binding partners. More specifically, he would like to understand the specific binding regions of CwlM as well as the kinetics of these interactions.
Hobbies: Outside the lab, Cesar’s primary focus is to spend time with his family. They enjoy taking road trips, visiting new places, or visiting their extended family in different parts of the country. Because of this, his hobbies and interests are cooking and photography. Cesar enjoys recording family trips and taking pictures of every place they visit. Being a food fanatic, he enjoys eating, learning, and replicating the different cuisines from the places he visits with his family. In addition to that, when the weather is nice he enjoys most outdoor sports such as frisbee golf, archery, and fishing.
Cesar was born and raised in Costa Rica, attended high school in San Francisco, CA, and ultimately graduated from UNT with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Prior to graduate school, he worked for Medical City and Baylor Healthcare systems as a Licensed Lab Technician.
He’s actually a founding member of the Boutte lab and joined as a lab and research assistant before transitioning into the PhD program. Cesar ultimately hopes to work in public health.
Research: As a lab/research assistant, Cesar’s first project, which was completed and published, focused on how different medium affect biofilm formation in Mycobacterium abscessus.
As a graduate student, his second project, and publication, was completed in 2022 which investigated the stress response mechanism in Mycobacterium abscessus.
Currently, Cesar is working on his third project and the main research for his dissertation. This project investigates the mycobacterial cell wall regulator CwlM. His current hypothesis is that CwlM regulates the synthesis of the peptidoglycan (PG) layer, which is the primary layer surrounding the cytoplasmic membrane of almost all bacteria. Current literature shows that this PG regulation occurs through multiple interactions with specific cell wall proteins. We believe that these interactions are driven by the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of CwlM. The goal of this project is to validate these interactions between CwlM and its binding partners. More specifically, he would like to understand the specific binding regions of CwlM as well as the kinetics of these interactions.
Hobbies: Outside the lab, Cesar’s primary focus is to spend time with his family. They enjoy taking road trips, visiting new places, or visiting their extended family in different parts of the country. Because of this, his hobbies and interests are cooking and photography. Cesar enjoys recording family trips and taking pictures of every place they visit. Being a food fanatic, he enjoys eating, learning, and replicating the different cuisines from the places he visits with his family. In addition to that, when the weather is nice he enjoys most outdoor sports such as frisbee golf, archery, and fishing.
Angela Freeman, B.S. – PhD Candidate
Angela grew up in Florida, but she’s been a Texan for 14 years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2018 from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, TX.
Research: Angela is interested in how mycobacteria balance cell elongation and division. Currently, she is investigating the varied roles of SepIVA, a cell division factor that also plays a role in cell elongation. She is in her fifth year of her PhD and is looking forward to a career in industry.
Hobbies: Angela has a dog named Zoey who is a very sassy, crusty, white dog. Together, she enjoys watching stand-up comedy, long walks in tall grass, and occasionally hanging out with her husband, Pettis.
Karen Tembiwa, B.S. – PhD Student
Karen was born in Douala, Cameroon, but moved to the US with her family at a young age. She grew up in Louisiana prior to moving to FW, TX, and did her undergrad studies in both states. She attained her B.S. in Biology at UTA, opted to return for her PhD, and entered directly into the Boutte Lab.
Research: Karen is currently researching the regulatory network surrounding mycobacterial peptidoglycan metabolism, specifically involving the nature of the interaction(s) between the lipid II flippase MurJ and the FHA-domain containing protein FhaA, whose primary function is yet unknown.
Hobbies: Outside of work, Karen enjoys reading, mostly fiction, going out with friends and family, wine, traveling, and watching films. She has acted all her life, and hopes to pick up that hobby again.
Karen was born in Douala, Cameroon, but moved to the US with her family at a young age. She grew up in Louisiana prior to moving to FW, TX, and did her undergrad studies in both states. She attained her B.S. in Biology at UTA, opted to return for her PhD, and entered directly into the Boutte Lab.
Research: Karen is currently researching the regulatory network surrounding mycobacterial peptidoglycan metabolism, specifically involving the nature of the interaction(s) between the lipid II flippase MurJ and the FHA-domain containing protein FhaA, whose primary function is yet unknown.
Hobbies: Outside of work, Karen enjoys reading, mostly fiction, going out with friends and family, wine, traveling, and watching films. She has acted all her life, and hopes to pick up that hobby again.
Samantha Quintanilla – Undergraduate Researcher
Samantha is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and she is slated to graduate in December of 2022.
Research: Samantha is currently working to elucidate the function of the novel cell wall regulator PlrA. Her goals are to get her PhD in Biology and continue on in the field of biomedical research.
Hobbies: In her free time, Samantha loves spending time with her 4-year-old Husky Luna and taking her on walks.
Samantha is currently working on a bachelor’s degree in Biology, and she is slated to graduate in December of 2022.
Research: Samantha is currently working to elucidate the function of the novel cell wall regulator PlrA. Her goals are to get her PhD in Biology and continue on in the field of biomedical research.
Hobbies: In her free time, Samantha loves spending time with her 4-year-old Husky Luna and taking her on walks.
Arinze Awagu, B.S. – Post-Bac Researcher
Arinze possesses a Bachelor of Science in Biology on the pre-med track and is currently working in the lab as a post-baccalaureate researcher while preparing for entry into medical school. In addition to taking courses and working in the lab, Arinze is the President of the Mavericks for Medical Humanities club, and he volunteers at a hospice facility.
Research: Arinze is current working to purify the peptidoglycan (PG) transferase enzyme MurA to facilitate ongoing investigations into the interaction between MurA and PG amidase homolog CwlM.
Hobbies: In his spare time, Arinze enjoys reading, watching movies, going to concerts and comedy shows, and playing video games. He also has a Pitbull-Great Pyrenees mix named Akita whom he enjoys playing with.
Arinze possesses a Bachelor of Science in Biology on the pre-med track and is currently working in the lab as a post-baccalaureate researcher while preparing for entry into medical school. In addition to taking courses and working in the lab, Arinze is the President of the Mavericks for Medical Humanities club, and he volunteers at a hospice facility.
Research: Arinze is current working to purify the peptidoglycan (PG) transferase enzyme MurA to facilitate ongoing investigations into the interaction between MurA and PG amidase homolog CwlM.
Hobbies: In his spare time, Arinze enjoys reading, watching movies, going to concerts and comedy shows, and playing video games. He also has a Pitbull-Great Pyrenees mix named Akita whom he enjoys playing with.
Vanessa (Nessabell) Hill – Undergraduate Researcher
Nessabell was born in Iowa, but she’s lived in many different parts of Texas growing up. She is a sophomore currently working on her bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Research: Nessabell’s current broad research interests pertain to proteins involved in growth and division, using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a model organism.
Hobbies: In her free time, Nessabell enjoys the discussion and analysis of various fictional media as well as enjoying writing fiction whenever she’s able. She also has a ten-year-old American pit-bull named Trina.
Nessabell was born in Iowa, but she’s lived in many different parts of Texas growing up. She is a sophomore currently working on her bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Research: Nessabell’s current broad research interests pertain to proteins involved in growth and division, using Mycobacterium smegmatis as a model organism.
Hobbies: In her free time, Nessabell enjoys the discussion and analysis of various fictional media as well as enjoying writing fiction whenever she’s able. She also has a ten-year-old American pit-bull named Trina.
Sunny – Chief Morale Officer
Sunny’s research interests include dog urine, cat urine, squirrel behavior, treat storage locations, and whether it is dinner time yet. She also holds office hours once a week and is always eager for pets and cuddles!
Cara Boutte, PhD. - Principal Investigator
Cara grew up in the Adirondack mountains in upstate NY. She got her PhD at the University of Chicago, where she studied stress signaling in Caulobacter crescentus with Sean Crosson. She then did a postdoctoral fellowship with Eric Rubin at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, where she started her research on cell wall regulation in mycobacteria. Outside of lab, she likes to read historical fiction and fantasy novels, go on long bike rides and, when they're available, hike up mountains.
Past Students
Farah Shamma, B.S., M.S., PhD.
Farah earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She then joined the faculty at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh as a lecturer. During her time in the Boutte Lab, she worked on the post-translational regulation of cell wall enzymes and regulators. She successfully defended and earned her PhD in December of 2021.
Farah earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. She then joined the faculty at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh as a lecturer. During her time in the Boutte Lab, she worked on the post-translational regulation of cell wall enzymes and regulators. She successfully defended and earned her PhD in December of 2021.
Madeline Carlson, B.S.
Heather Lake, B.S.
Parthvi Patel, B.S.
Heather Lake, B.S.
Parthvi Patel, B.S.
