Marianna Feretzaki

Research Interest: The unisexual reproduction of the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

Hi everyone! My name is Marianna Feretzaki, and I am a graduate student in UPGG. I am originally from Crete, Greece where I obtained my BS in Biology from University of Crete. My undergraduate research focused on the fragile site FRA10AC1, and particularly, in the interaction of the FRA10AC1p with proteins involved in the DiGeorge syndrome. During my undergraduate studies, I had the opportunity to visit the United States and work as a summer student in Dr. Jeffrey Medeiros' lab at the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX. While at MD Anderson, I visited Baylor College of Medicine where I met Dr. Susan Rosenberg, who studies the hierarchy of DNA polymerases on the beta-clamp.

In 2007, I joined the UPGG program, which caught my attention for its wide variety of research areas and for the wonderful people. In addition, Duke University is an excellent place for science, and combined with the great campus environment, makes graduate school a memorable experience.

In 2008, my passion for the exciting world of mycology led me to join Dr. Heitman's lab. I am studying the conserved pathway of mating and the hyphae development in the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Currently, I am performing a genetic screen to identify novel genes or pathways that govern mating and hyphae development in Cryptococcus.

Outside of the lab, I spend my time reading, watching movies, and my favorite thing, traveling.

top