Current Team

Lab Director:

Graduate Students:

Emily Bowden Christensen

PhD Student 

Research Areas: Prochlorococcus ecology and physiology, oxidative stress, microbial interactions

Biography: I grew up in San Diego, CA before attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where I earned my B.S of Microbiology in 2021. During my time as an undergraduate, I worked in the Fidopiastis lab studying nuclease regulation in Vibrio fischeri biofilms. In the summer of my junior year, I had the opportunity to intern at the Joint BioEnergy Institute in Emeryville, CA working on a bioengineering project focused on the bacterial production of indigoidine. In the summer of 2021, I moved to Knoxville to begin my PhD program. Outside of lab, I enjoy volunteering in Knoxville classrooms where I help K-12 students conduct water quality experiments on their local streams. I also enjoy watching baseball (go Padres!), playing soccer, and hiking.

Research: My research focuses on studying the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus and its interactions with the microbial community. I am especially interested in how oxidative stress and nutrient limitation impact Prochlorococcus physiology and ecology. To conduct this research, I have also worked to develop new methods to culture marine bacteria. In the fall of 2023, I had the opportunity to conduct field work in the North Pacific Ocean at Station ALOHA, where I performed experiments analyzing hydrogen peroxide degradation rates of microbial communities in situ.

Education: 2021 – B.S. Microbiology, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Publications: Google Scholar

Email: ebowden2@vols.utk.edu

Kennedi Hambrick

PhD Student 

Research Areas: Host-virus interactions, mathematical modeling

Biography: I obtained my B.S. in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from the University of Tennessee in 2022. During this time I had the opportunity to work in the Zinser lab as an undergraduate research assistant. In Fall 2022, I joined the Zinser lab as a doctoral student. My interests outside of the lab include going on adventures with my puppies and exploring new places!

Research: In the Zinser lab, my research focuses on the freshwater cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to answer questions related to host-phage interactions, genetic defense mechanisms, and characterization of gene function. To achieve this, I use traditional wet lab approaches such as genetic engineering, culturing, physiological measurements, and biochemical measurements in combination with computational analysis through mathematical modeling. Recent work has involved understanding the factors that influence Microcystis host-phage dynamics under varying ecologically relevant conditions. Additionally, my recent work has looked into characterization of gene function through developing novel genetic techniques. Overall, my research aims to link experimental data and mathematical modeling with the aim to advance the fields of microbial genetics, physiology, and freshwater ecology.

Education: 2022 – B.S. Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Publications: ORCiD

Email: khambri3@vols.utk.edu

Luke Qualey

PhD Student 

Research Areas: Evolutionary microbiology, genetic adaptability, synthetic biology

Biography: I am originally from Chattanooga, TN and I moved to Knoxville in 2023. I first became interested in microbiology during an undergraduate biochemistry course where we talked about genetically manipulating bacteria to produce useful secondary metabolites. My interests outside of the lab include outdoor activities like paragliding, backpacking, and going to vols football games. Go vols! 

Research: My work in the Zinser lab investigates the fascinating, fast growing bacterium Vibrio natriegens. At this time, I am interested in how V. natriegens evolves under different stress conditions and how these subsequent mutations allow for phenotypes with increased relative fitness. This is carried out by aging strains in the stressful conditions of long-term stationary phase, then subjecting them to competition in order to demonstrate new phenotypes. This research uses GASP (growth advantage in stationary phase) in order to better understand V. natriegens genetic adaptability. Other projects of interest include using genetic engineering to synthesize industrially relevant compounds and documenting the genetic diversity of V. natriegens in its natural, salty environment. 

Education: 2023 – B.S., University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Publications: Google Scholar

Email: vfk493@vols.utk.edu

Luke Consolati

PhD Student 

Research Areas:Anaerobic Metabolism, Adaptive Evolution, Synthetic Biology

Biography: I am originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts and attended Wesleyan University for my undergraduate degree where I was a member of the track and field team.  During that time I was a part of the Cohan lab where I studied the evolutionary dynamics of sporulation in B. subtilus and other wild Bacillus strains from Death Valley.  During the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to do research at UTK in the Zinser lab as part of the microbiology REU program.   I officially moved to Knoxville in the summer of 2025 to begin my PhD training.  Outside of the lab I enjoy running, soccer, volleyball, and trying new coffee shops around the area!

Research: My research aims to further understand the anaerobic metabolism of the fastest growing non-pathogenic bacteria, V. natriegens.  I am interested in how V. natriegens evolves and adapts to the many stressors that are present in long-term stationary phase, such as nutrient limitation, oxygen availability, and the presence of acidic fermentation products.  I am also interested in to what extent V. natriegens relies on fermentative and anaerobic respiration pathways for growth.  To study these mechanisms, I age cultures and subsequently compete them to assess mutants for a growth advantage in stationary phase (GASP) phenotype.  I also employ a number of genetic tools, such as MuGENT and CRISPR, to create transformants and gene knockouts that can be used to assess adaptive mutations and the role of anaerobic metabolic pathways for survival.

Education: 2025 – B.A. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Science and Technology Studies, Wesleyan University

Publications: Google Scholar

Email: lconsola@vols.utk.edu

Ty (Peter) Spelta

PhD Student 

Research Areas: Prochlorococcus physiology and ecology, oxidative stress, microbial interactions

Biography: I am originally from Nashville, TN, and graduated from Miami University at Oxford with a degree in microbiology. While I was there, I worked in the Bollmann lab working on nitrifiers (organisms that carry out nitrification) and investigated how they compete for nutrients after long periods of starvation. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball with my friends in the department and collecting Pokémon cards.

Education: 2025 – B.S., Miami University

Publications: Google Scholar

Email: pspelta@vols.utk.edu

Undergraduate Assistants

Alumni