Undergraduate Students

Jayanna Baptiste, Undergraduate Researcher

(Expected 2028) B.S. Biology, Minor in Health and Medical Sciences. Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

My research interests broadly align with public health, with a focus on understanding how biological systems influence health outcomes at both individual and population levels. In the Kostka Lab, I am gaining exposure to environmental microbiology and biogeochemistry, allowing me to explore a new research field and build a strong foundation in experimental and analytical research.

Through my work in the lab, I support microbiome and molecular biology projects, contributing to sample processing, DNA extractions,  culturing, data collection, and more; while collaborating closely with graduate students and faculty. This experience has expanded my perspective on how environmental processes and microbial communities intersect with human and ecosystem health.

Long-term, I hope to pursue research related to chronic illness and women’s reproductive health, and I am interested in how environmental and microbial factors shape health disparities. Outside of research, I enjoy watching all types of movies, hanging out with friends, and eating a burrito from Rreal Tacos (as much as possible).

Michael Saenz, Undergraduate Researcher

I am a third-year undergraduate biology major at Georgia Tech. I primarily plan on researching microbiology, with a focus on bacteriology and medical microbiology. At the Kostka Lab, I assist with various research projects centered around ecological microbiology and DNA analysis, during which I have gained significant experience and knowledge in biological techniques and how microbes influence local ecosystems.

In the lab, I have gained significant experience in DNA extractions, sample processing, and data analysis. Furthermore, in assisting graduate students with their research, I have learned a great deal about the experimental process and the type of research I may want to do after completing my Bachelors. In the future, I hope to delve more deeply into the world of microbiology and help categorize and possibly help treat pathogenic bacteria through the realm of medical microbiology. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing basketball and writing.