Hometown: Vancouver, Washington
Faculty mentor: Noah Butler, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology, Carver College of Medicine
Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in Immunology, 2027

Taylen Nappi examines how shifts in immune cell metabolism can affect resistance to Plasmodium, the parasite that causes malaria. In areas of malaria transmission, Individuals infected with malaria do not develop lasting immunity to the parasite, allowing them to become infected again each season. The cellular processes that contribute to this lack of durable immunity are not well understood. Nappi is investigating how Plasmodium disturbs metabolic systems in the host’s immune cells, triggering this short-lived protection. Malaria still threatens up to a third of the world’s population, and the disease is not responsive to many treatments. Nappi’s research aims to make new treatments for malaria possible.

After graduation Nappi would like to teach college courses while either pursuing a postdoctoral position or moving into the private sector of scientific research.

Banner location: Downtown—