LAHONDERE
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Chloé Lahondère (Principal Investigator) (She/Elle)
I am a biologist interested in blood-sucking insects' thermal biology, physiology and neuro-ethology. I obtained my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Tours (France) and pursued a PhD at the same university under the supervision of Prof. Claudio Lazzari. I then moved to Seattle, WA (USA) to join the lab of Prof. Jeff Riffell in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington. I joined the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech as a Research Assistant Professor in October 2017, transitioning to the tenure track in 2020. I was promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure in 2024.
I am affiliated with the Fralin Life Science Institute, the Global Change Center, the BIOTRANS program, the CeZAP program and the Department of Entomology at Virginia Tech.
Link to my CV
Helle Aronson (MS student - 2023 SURF Fellow)
Helle is a sophomore at Virginia Tech from Herndon, Virginia. She is pursuing a biochemistry degree with a biodiversity conservation minor. Outside of classes, Helle likes to travel, hike, kayak, and garden.
Helle joined the lab as an undergrad in Spring 2023 and as a BS/MS student in Fall 2024. She has received funding from the Global Change Center as well as from the Fralin Life Science Institute to conduct her research.
Elizabeth Blay (Undergraduate Researcher)
Elizabeth is a junior at Virginia Tech from Waldorf, Maryland. She is pursuing a biochemistry degree. She would like to go to medical school after getting her degree hoping to become a medical doctor. Outside of classes, Elizabeth likes to crochet, cook, and go on trips with friends.
Elizabeth joined the lab in Fall 2024, working primarily with Gavyn as part of a collaborative project with Dr. Gillian Eastwood focusing on the effects on mosquitoes on rural health .
Shanni Deng (Undergraduate Researcher)
Shanni is a freshman from Ashburn, VA. She is currently majoring in biochemistry and hopes to pursue a career in the healthcare field upon graduation. Outside of school, she enjoys playing classical piano, crocheting, and running.
Shanni joined the lab in Spring 2025 and work with Shajaesza.
Shajaesza Diggs, MS (Lab Tech)
Shajaesza obtained her BA in Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry in 2021. She is the recipient of the Dean’s Diversity Assistantship and the Carter Fellowship. She is originally from Staunton, Virginia and enjoys all things related to Virginia Tech and being a Hokie as well as roller skating and traveling.
Shajaesza was a lab tech and conducted research on mosquito rhythms and olfaction before joining the lab as a MS student in 2022, graduating in 2024. She is now a lab tech again. She is co-mentored with Dr. Clément Vinauger.
Sophia D'Onofrio (Undergraduate Researcher)
Sophia is a junior at Virginia Tech from Westchester, New York. She is pursuing a biochemistry degree and hopes to attend pharmacy school upon graduation. Outside of school, Sophia enjoys painting, traveling, and playing tennis.
Sophia joined the lab in Fall 2025, and she is working with James on a project focusing on Plant-Insect interactions.
Micah Hodge (Undergraduate Researcher)
Micah is a Senior at Virginia Tech from Mechanicsville, Virginia. She is pursuing a degree in biochemistry. Her career goal is to go into infectious disease pharmacology. Outside of classes, Micah likes to learn about art history, snowboard, travel, and cook with friends.
Micah joined the lab in Fall 2025, working predominantly with James.
Isabell Lee (Undergraduate Researcher)
Isabell is a biochemistry student originally from Fairfax, VA. She would like to go to dental school after completing her undergraduate degree. Outside of academics, she loves to volunteer, watch movies, cook, travel, play volleyball and pickleball.
Isabell joined the lab in Fall of 2025 and mainly works with James and Shajaesza.
James Moloney (PhD student, GTS Scholar and IGC GCC Fellow)
James is a PhD student originally from Kansas City, Missouri. He obtained a BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Truman State University. James is primarily interested in plant-insect interactions, specifically mosquito sugar feeding behavior and attraction to particular plants. James is a current Interfaces of Global Change Fellow through the Global Change Center. He is also supported by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Graduate Teaching Scholars program.
James originally came to the lab as an REU student at Mountain Lake Biological Station in summer 2023, before starting as a graduate student in fall 2024.
Seyed Jalil Pasha (JP) Mirlohi (Laboratory Specialist)
JP obtained his degree from technical school in Vienna, Austria. He moved to the US in 2000. He joined Virginia Tech in 2019 and started working as a team member in Dr. Tu's lab in the biochemistry department. When not in the lab, JP likes traveling and hiking.
JP joined the lab in June 2022.
Gavyn Sanford (MS student)
Gavyn is a junior here at Virginia Tech. He is majoring in biological sciences with a minor in psychology. He would like to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate degree. Outside of academics, he really enjoys volunteering, traveling, cooking, roller skating, and reading.
Gavyn joined the lab during Summer 2024 as a lab and field tech. He is co-mentored by Chloé and Dr. Gillian Eastwood (Entomology, Virginia Tech).
Clara Stahlmann Roeder (Visiting PhD Student)
Clara Stahlmann Roeder is a Biology PhD candidate in Butch Brodie’s lab at University of Virginia, co-mentored by Dr. Lahondère as part of a NSF/UVA EXPAND fellowship. She grew up in St. Paul, MN and obtained her B.S. in Biology at the University of Chicago in 2017. She currently studies the evolution of social behavior, examining how organisms communicate and respond to past social experiences. She primarily studies these concepts within the context of forked fungus beetle fights using behavioral experiments but is expanding her research into the chemical analysis of social cues.
Saanvi Vemareddy (Undergraduate Researcher)
Saanvi is a sophomore at Virginia Tech from Ashburn, Virginia. She is majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Data and Decisions, hoping to pursue a career in the biotechnology field upon graduation. Outside of classes, Saanvi likes to travel, dance, hike, and hangout with her friends.
Saanvi joined the lab during Fall 2025 and works with Helle.
International and National Visitors
Ayda Khorramnejad, Junior Researcher, University of Pavia, Dr. Mariangela Bonizzoni's lab - Summer/Fall 2024
Martina Carlassara, PhD Student - University of Pavia, Dr. Mariangela Bonizzoni's lab - Travelling Fellowship, The Company of Biologists - Fall/Winter 2021
Dimitri Wangrawa, Assistant Professor - Fullbright Scholar - University Norbert Zongo - Bukina Faso - 2021
Summer interns and REU students
Aqsa Fazal, SURF / GCC Student - Hollins College - Summer 2022
Mik Fehlman, REU VT REEL - Penn State University - Summer 2021
Sarah Garcia, REU MLBS - Cornell University - Summer 2024
Ella Halbert, REU MLBS - Oberlin College - Summer 2022
Ray Kennedy, REU MLBS - LeHigh Univeirsty - Summer 2025
James Moloney, REU MLBS - Trauman State University - Summer 2023
Simone de Montigny, REU MLBS, Beloit College - Summer 2024
Megan Roark, REU MLBS - UV wise - Summer 2021
Bella Roeske, REU MLBS - Emory University - Summer 2023
Iris Schmeder, REU MLBS - University of Texas, Austin - Summer 2025
Lab Alumni
Louna Abdalla, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2021-2022
Zach Baker, Summer Lab and Field Assistant - 2020
Elizabeth Bose, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2018-2019
Ross Choate, Undergraduate researcher (Biological Sciences) - 2020
Danielle David, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2022
Shajaesza Diggs, Lab tech - 2021-2022
Katelyn Domke, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2022-2025
Darren Dougharty, Lab tech - 2020-2021
Lauren Fryzlewicz, Master Student and Technician (Biochemistry) - 2019-2021
Cameron Hart, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2018-2019
Helen Oker, Master Student (Biochemistry) - 2021-2023
Sydney Fogleman, Undergraduate researcher (Biological Sciences) - 2021-2022
Brittany Hart, GTS Scholar Mentee (Biochemistry) - 2021-2024
Chris Logan, Undergraduate researcher (Biological Sciences) - 2021-2022
Vansh Parikh, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2021-2022
Rachel Porter, Undergraduate researcher (BSI / Entomology) - 2022
Joanna Reinhold, PhD student and Post-doctoral associate (Biochemistry) - 2018 - 2024
Aley Savory, Undergraduate researcher (Chemical Engineering) - 2019-2020
SaGia Singh, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2023-2025
Ryan Shaw, Undergraduate researcher (Biological Sciences) - 2019-2020
Eva Snaith, Undergraduate researcher (Biological Sciences and Biochemistry) - 2023-2024
Anaïs Tallon, Post-doctoral associate - 2021-2022
Sarah Tartabini, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - 2018-2020
Taj Valliani, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry) - Fall 2022
Morgen VanderGiessen, Lab Tech and Master Student (Biochemistry) - co-mentored with Clément Vinauger - 2018-2021
Ashlynn VanWinkle, Undergraduate researcher (Biochemistry / Chemistry) - 2020-2021
Forde Uphsur, MS, PhD student and Lab Tech (Biochemistry) - 2018-2024