Our Lab

Binita Nepal, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Binita Nepal, PhD holds a bachelor's degree (Bsc), majoring in Microbiology, and a master's degree (Msc) in Medical Microbiology. She earned her PhD in Biological sciences under Dr. Ana Calvo at Northern Illinois University, Illinois. In the Calvo lab, she investigated the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis of clinically and agriculturally important fungi, specializing in invasive aspergillosis infections and mycotoxin production. For her postdoctoral training in the Wetzel Lab, she expanded her research area into molecular parasitology to study the neglected tropical diseases: leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis. The Wetzel Lab has discovered an aminopyrazole compound with activity against a broad range of parasites that affects parasite microtubule polymerization. Binita’s research primarily focuses on defining the mechanism of action of this compound. Binita is a recipient of an individual AHA postdoctoral fellowship (2022-2024). Outside of the lab, Binita loves spending time with her family, cooking and reading.

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Arani Datta

Senior Research Associate, Lab Manager

Researcher by training, problem-solver by trade. After completing my graduate training in oncology, my expertise expanded into hematology, stress biology, RNAi, parasitology and scientific core management. Presently, I am a Senior Research Associate, working on neglected tropical diseases. I look forward to novel challenges, innovative problem solving with my team, strategizing, and bridging the gaps between research and administration to improve workflow. Beyond this, I enjoy life's many adventures with a toddler son, immersing myself in sports and pursuing exciting culinary experiments.

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Catherine Trice

Research Technician

Catherine received a B.S. in Chemical and BioMolecular Engineering from Milwaukee School of Engineering in Wisconsin. It was there that she discovered her passion for lab work and infectious disease research. Her senior design project focused on the development of a Rapid Legionella Detection Kit for the onsite detection of the bacterium that causes Legionnaire's Disease. Currently, she focuses on drug discovery for trypanosomatid parasites, including Leishmania and T. brucei. When not in the lab, she enjoys playing with her ferrets, knitting, and playing video games.

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Jessica Cambric

Graduate Student

Jessica Cambric is originally from Houston, TX with her family from both the U.S. and El Salvador. She received her B.S. in Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences at the University of Houston where she researched sex determining genes in the house fly. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked at the Houston Methodist Research Institute where she participated in SARS-CoV-2 research and surveillance, as well as identification of important genes in Group A Streptococcus. Currently, she works in the Wetzel Lab at the UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she works on studying neglected tropical diseases, specifically Leishmaniasis. Her research focuses on identifying different mechanisms of action for potential therapeutics and characterizing proteins in Leishmania spp. When not in the lab, she enjoys playing with her cat and 80 lb. boxer hound rescue dog, reading, and spending time with family.

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