•Investigated the contribution of neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) to SARS-CoV-2 neuronal entry in sensory neurons.•Assessed the neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2 following intranasal infection in hACE2 transgenic mice, non-carrier mice, and guinea pigs.•Determined the replication potential of SARS-CoV-2 in primary neuronal cultures from central and peripheral nervous system tissues from hACE2 transgenic mice and non-carrier mice.•Quantified the recovery of infectious SARS-CoV-2 in common alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to assess risk for person-to-person transmission.•Assisted in research to determine the viability of SARS-CoV-2 in/on food and beverages to better guide infection mitigation and environmental testing.•Lead preclinical research to determine the safety, neurotropism, and serological response of a live-attenuated HSV-2 vaccine candidate after intradermal inoculation in a guinea pig model.•Evaluated nanoparticle delivery and cytotoxicity of a pancreatic cancer chemotherapeutic in murine bone marrow derived macrophage and dendritic cells following irreversible electroporation.•Used immunofluorescence microscopy to assess the impact of infection on the distribution of sodium channels, calcium channels, and connexin in adenoviral infected hiPSC-CM and mouse ventricles.

•Lead preclinical research to determine the safety, neurotropism, and serological response of a live-attenuated HSV-2 vaccine candidate after intradermal inoculation in a mouse model.•Assessed the impact of inoculation route (ocular, intradermal, vaginal) on survival, neurotropism, and serological response in a mouse model to HSV-2 (MS, ΔR) versus a live-attenuated HSV-2 vaccine candidate.•Determined clinical progression, neurotropism, and serological response in a mouse model to HSV-2 (MS) and multiple live-attenuated HSV-2 (MS) vaccine candidates after intradermal or vaginal inoculation.•Assessed clinical progression, neurotropism, and serological response in a guinea pig model to HSV-2 (MS, ΔR) and HSV-1 (17+) after vaginal infection.•Determined tissue tropism of Zika virus (ZIKV) in guinea pigs after subcutaneous or vaginal infection to establish a clinically relevant small animal model.•Assisted in research to determine the tissue tropism of various adeno associated virus serotypes in guinea pigs after ocular, intradermal, intravenous, intravaginal, and intranasal inoculation.•Assisted in the harvesting and culture of primary mouse neurons from central nervous system tissues (olfactory bulb, hippocampus, brainstem, cerebellum, each cortical lobe) and peripheral nervous system tissues (superior cervical ganglia, trigeminal ganglia, lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia).•Initiated research to assess the impact of seminal plasma from uninfected, and short-term/long-term ZIKV RNA shedders on ZIKV infection in-vitro.•Instructed several undergraduate microbiology teaching lab sections.•Created online Canvas content to assist undergraduate students in immunology and genetics.

•Developed training materials to train scientists in the Republic of Georgia on the creation and submission of scientific abstracts, posters, and manuscript.•Coordinated the development of a CLSI compliant validation plan for the validation of a human anti-Brucella antibody specific fluorescence polarization assay in the Republic of Georgia.•Collaborated with a dynamic team in the development of standard operating procedures for the development, optimization, and validation of an antigen capture ELISA for Brucella abortus and Francisella tularensis in the Republic of Georgia.•Participated in the multi-agency development of standard operating procedures for: culturing Coxiella burnetii in axenic media, as well as the detection of C. burnetii by conventional end-point PCR, RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence antibody assay in the Republic of Georgia.•Assisted in the development of public health outreach to prevent infection with African swine fever virus in high-risk groups in the Republic of Georgia.

•Assisted in the development of research projects in the Republic of Georgia funded through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's (Department of Defense) Cooperative Biological Engagement Program.•Coordinated the compilation, analysis, and reporting of monthly, quarterly, and final project reports, project specific standard operating procedures, conference calls, minutes, and trainings of the above funded projects.•Collaborated with a multi-disciplinary team in manuscript publication from data generated from the above funded projects.•Reviewed, edited, and submitted abstracts, posters, and oral presentations from data generated from the above funded projects for international scientific conferences.•Created a database to provide novel “home brew” assay component development for molecular assays (e.g., PCR, RT-PCR) for scientists in scientifically developing countries to detect Select Agents.•Generated literature reviews of specific especially dangerous pathogens/Select Agents (e.g., Bacillus anthracis, Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus).

•Conducted molecular cloning using supplied vector DNA, de novo synthesized DNA/annealed oligos, and/or PCR products as insert through both manual techniques (gel excision, vacuum/column purification, hand ligation) and automation (Qiagen QIAcube, Hamilton liquid handlers).•Consulted and troubleshot with the Process Development Group.•Collaborated with the Executive Assistant on the production process and implementation of several novel ideas to streamline production, enhance transparency, and increase documentation to reduce overall error rates.

•Conducted research to identify the receptor used by the La Crosse virus (LACV) upon entry into the midguts of vector mosquitoes.•Identified bacteria present in the midgut of LACV vector mosquitoes using standard microbiological and molecular techniques (e.g., 16S rRNA PCR).•Quantified inhibitory interactions using PRNT between LACV and the previously identified midgut bacteria on the infectivity of LACV in cell culture.•Collaborated in the development and submission of a manuscript detailing these research efforts.