Karen Tembiwa, B.S. – PhD Candidate
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 obtained her B.S. in Biology at UTA, opted to return for her PhD, and entered directly into the Boutte Lab.
Research: Karen is currently studying the function of essential polar growth regulator PgfA
Hobbies: Outside of work, Karen enjoys reading (mostly fiction), going out with friends and family, wine, traveling, watching films, and acting.
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 obtained her B.S. in Biology at UTA, opted to return for her PhD, and entered directly into the Boutte Lab.
Research: Karen is currently studying the function of essential polar growth regulator PgfA
Hobbies: Outside of work, Karen enjoys reading (mostly fiction), going out with friends and family, wine, traveling, watching films, and acting.
Anusuya Nepal, B.S. - PhD Candidate
Anusuya studies DNA damage responses in Mycobacteria, and how DNA damage affects cell division.
Anusuya studies DNA damage responses in Mycobacteria, and how DNA damage affects cell division.
Manuel Chavez, B.S. - PhD studentManuel was born in Mexico but moved to the US at a young age. He grew up in Dallas and began his undergrad studies at Dallas College before transferring to UTA. Manuel graduated with a B.S. in Biology from UTA in 2020 and completed the UTeach program. After graduating, Manuel was a high school biology/chemistry teacher for three academic school years before returning to UTA for his PhD.
Research: Manuel studies polar growth in Mycobacteria, and how it is regulated by the condensate properties of Wag31.
Hobbies: Outside of work Manuel likes to watch cartoons, go to the gym, and play with his cats! Manuel also volunteers with the College of Science at UTA and helps at recruiting and social events.
Research: Manuel studies polar growth in Mycobacteria, and how it is regulated by the condensate properties of Wag31.
Hobbies: Outside of work Manuel likes to watch cartoons, go to the gym, and play with his cats! Manuel also volunteers with the College of Science at UTA and helps at recruiting and social events.
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 understand the function of cell division regulator SepIVA
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 understand the function of cell division regulator SepIVA
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.
Cindy Nguyen – Undergraduate Researcher
Cindy was born in Dallas, TX, but moved to Arlington when she was 4. Cindy is currently a sophomore working towards her B.S in Medical Technology. She hopes to work toward a medical lab technician position in a hospital after she completes her degree.
Research: Cindy is working with Karen on determining the function of an essential polar growth protein.
Hobbies: When she has free time, Cindy reads, watches movies, and plays visual novels. She loves to browse and collect merchandise of her favorite fictional characters.
Cindy was born in Dallas, TX, but moved to Arlington when she was 4. Cindy is currently a sophomore working towards her B.S in Medical Technology. She hopes to work toward a medical lab technician position in a hospital after she completes her degree.
Research: Cindy is working with Karen on determining the function of an essential polar growth protein.
Hobbies: When she has free time, Cindy reads, watches movies, and plays visual novels. She loves to browse and collect merchandise of her favorite fictional characters.
Gifty Saji - Undergraduate Researcher
Gifty was born in India and raised in Kuwait. She came to the US when she was in 5th grade. She is currently doing her Bachelor's of Science in Biology. She hopes to work in a clinical setting someday.
Research: She is working with Anusuya to understand how cell division proteins in Mycobacteria assemble into a complex.
Hobbies: Aside from school and work, Gifty loves cooking, spending time with family, watching TikTok, listening to podcasts and sleeping.
Gifty was born in India and raised in Kuwait. She came to the US when she was in 5th grade. She is currently doing her Bachelor's of Science in Biology. She hopes to work in a clinical setting someday.
Research: She is working with Anusuya to understand how cell division proteins in Mycobacteria assemble into a complex.
Hobbies: Aside from school and work, Gifty loves cooking, spending time with family, watching TikTok, listening to podcasts and sleeping.
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 PhD in December of 2021. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Karakousis Lab at Johns Hopkins University
Angela Freeman, B.S., PhD.
Angela successfully defended and earned her PhD in May of 2023. She is currently a Research Associate in the Hendrixson lab at UT Southwestern.
Neda Habibi Arejan, M.D., PhD.
Neda earned her PhD in May of 2024.
Augusto Cesar Hunt-Serracin, B.S. PhD.
Cesar earned his PhD in May of 2024. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Boll Lab at UT Dallas.
Farah earned her PhD in December of 2021. She is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Karakousis Lab at Johns Hopkins University
Angela Freeman, B.S., PhD.
Angela successfully defended and earned her PhD in May of 2023. She is currently a Research Associate in the Hendrixson lab at UT Southwestern.
Neda Habibi Arejan, M.D., PhD.
Neda earned her PhD in May of 2024.
Augusto Cesar Hunt-Serracin, B.S. PhD.
Cesar earned his PhD in May of 2024. He is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Boll Lab at UT Dallas.
Brian Parks
Madeline Carlson, B.S., M.D
Heather Lake, B.S.
Parthvi Patel, B.S.
Samantha Quintanilla, B.S.
Nessabell Hill
Madeline Carlson, B.S., M.D
Heather Lake, B.S.
Parthvi Patel, B.S.
Samantha Quintanilla, B.S.
Nessabell Hill
