Laura Childers

Laura is from Houston, Texas. Laura earned undergraduate degrees in History and Plan II Honors from The University of Texas at Austin, then went on to receive a postbaccalaureate degree in Biology from Oregon State University – Cascades (OSU). At OSU, Laura did undergraduate research studying wild-caught stickleback with Dr. Ann Petersen. She then earned her Ph.D. in Cell Biology at Duke University in the laboratory of Dr. Michel Bagnat by uncovering interactions between lysosome rich enterocytes and the gut microbiome that impact host nutrient absorption. In the Rawls lab, Laura is researching the gut microbiomes of wild-caught zebrafish and investigating host-microbiome interactions through enteroendocrine cells. In her free time, Laura loves trail running along the Eno River, birdwatching, camping and hiking.