As a PhD-trained pathobiologist, I have multidisciplinary training in microbiology, immunology, and basic mechanisms of disease. My research interests focus on the study of pathogenic microbes and how variations in bacterial physiology can influence our ability to treat infections.

"Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!"

- The Red Queen, Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass

…And we are falling behind in the race.

My primary research interests revolve around

  • Improving resiliency of our currently available antibiotics through mechanism based treatment strategies to fight antibiotic resistance

  • Increasing efficiency of antibiotic target discovery through the use of large microbial genomic datasets

  • (something about systems biology/host-pathogen interactions)

Career & Education

  • Through my PhD training, I gained expertise in molecular biology, genetics, and animal models. However, it also became clear to me how much could be gained for the study of infectious disease mechanisms through the use of bioinformatics, and so sought out the mentorship of Dr. Evan Snitkin at the University of Michigan in order to develop skills in the field of genomics and computational biology. In Dr. Snitkin’s lab I have transitioned to the study of C. difficile pathogenesis. Thanks to existing and fruitful collaborations with other investigators at the University of Michigan as well as other institutions, I am able to access a data set of both whole genome sequenced C. difficile strains as well as corresponding patient metadata. I aim to use the time under Dr. Snitkin’s mentorship to round out my skillset so that I can bring together my understanding of the basic biology of bacteria and mechanisms of infection with metagenomics and machine learning to accelerate discovery of mechanisms of pathogenesis. These mechanisms could then be leveraged to improve treatment outcomes.

  • Thesis Title -

    To deepen my understanding of mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, for my doctoral training I joined Dr. Gyanu Lamichhane at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to study the biochemical and genetic basis of the structure and physiology of the peptidoglycan of bacteria. My thesis work focused on Mycobacteriodes (formerly Mycobacterium) abscessus; an emerging pathogen among cystic fibrosis patients, with rising rates of infection among other patient populations with underlying lung pathology. Due to this organism’s inherent drug resistance clinicians must prescribe long courses of IV antibiotics with high toxicity risks. In the majority of cases these treatments do not achieve cure of the infection. During my training I was granted an F31 which allowed me to pursue two synergistic paths of interest: generation of gene deletion mutants in M. abscessus, and development of a novel pulmonary infection model in mice. The studies using these mutants are ongoing by current graduate students in Dr. Lamichhane’s lab, and the mouse model shows promise to be a viable method for evaluating novel antibiotic treatment regimens and investigating pathogenesis of different M. abscessus strains.

  • Bachelors of Science: Major Microbiology, Minor Statistics

    High Honors and High Distinction, cumulative GPA 3.87

    As an undergraduate I worked on an Honors Thesis in the lab of Dr. John LiPuma at the University of Michigan. My project brought together concepts in microbial ecology and physiology to develop a system to study and manipulate cystic fibrosis patient sputum-derived biofilms in vitro to better understand this form of microbial growth in the lung. Some occasions of failure of antibiotic treatment in this patient population may be attributed to this state of bacterial growth.

Select Publications

Maggioncalda E.C., Story-Roller E., Mylius J., Illei P., Basaraba R.J., Lamichhane G. A mouse model of pulmonary Mycobacteroides abscessus infection. Sci Rep (2020) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60452-1

Galanis C, Maggioncalda EC, Kumar P, Lamichhane G. Glby, Encoded by MAB_3167c, Is Required for In Vivo Growth of Mycobacteroides abscessus and Exhibits Mild β-Lactamase Activity. J Bacteriol. (2022) DOI: 10.1128/jb.00046-22

Nicklas DA, Maggioncalda EC, Story-Roller E, Eichelman B, Tabor C, Serio AW, Keepers TR, Chitra S, Lamichhane G. Potency of omadacycline against Mycobacteroides abscessus clinical isolates in vitro and in a mouse model of pulmonary infection. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. (2021) DOI: 10.1128/AAC.01704-21

For full publication list, please visit my Pubmed Bibliography.

Funding and Honors

Present/Active

NIH – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) National Research Service Award F32 – 1F32AI169765-01A1

Emily C. Maggioncalda, PI 12/1/2022 – TBD

Completed

NIH – National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) National Research Service Award F31 – 1F31HL147392-01

Emily C. Maggioncalda, PI 3/19/2019 – 11/2/2020

Honors & Awards

Pathology Young Investigators’ Day (PYID) Translational Research Category Poster Award (2019)

 UROP Summer Biomedical and Life Sciences Fellowship (2013)

Technical Skills

  • Genetic manipulations of bacteria

  • Molecular biology techniques

  • Mouse infection models

  • Adept in R coding language

  • Adept in cluster computing

  • Familiar with GitHub version control and repository structures

  • Familiar with Python coding language

  • Familiar with pharmacokinetic experiment design and implementation

Additional Skills

  • Scientific communication/writing

  • Project management

University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association Co-President University of Michigan, Jan. 2022 – Jan. 2023

  • Represent the UMPDA and its members in meetings with University of Michigan administration and with the National Postdoctoral Association

  • Develop the annual budget for the UMPDA for professional development seminars/awards, networking events, community outreach, etc., from a working budget of ~$60,000

  • Developed a proposal for an updated campus climate survey for postdoctoral researchers across all divisions of the university to assess current needs

  • Worked with the Michigan Creative Department to redesign and update the UMPDA website (https://umpda.rackham.umich.edu/)

University of Michigan Postdoctoral Association Interim Secretary University of Michigan, July 2021 – Jan. 2022

  • Recorded the proceedings of UMPDA board meetings

  • Managed the UMPDA listserv

  • Participated in executing events for National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW)                          

Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) Representative Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dec. 2017 – Dec. 2018

  • As the sole representative for the School of Medicine graduate student body I worked with OIE to improve their online reporting forms for ease of use to report sexual misconduct

  • Promoted via social media OIE’s campus wide climate survey about sexual misconduct, leading to a participation rate of over 30% in the School of Medicine, one of the highest among all university divisions

  • Worked with OIE to improve education of individuals about their rights and protections when reporting any harassment or misconduct (see article at http://bit.ly/emilyOIE)                    

Graduate Student Association (GSA) Vice-President of General Affairs Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, June 2017 – July 2018

  • Elected position for the executive board of the GSA, the governing body for the graduate students in the School of Medicine

  • Organized and implemented events for the student body such as first-year student orientation

Advocacy