Lab members
Caitlin Rering
Research Chemist
she/her
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Dr. Rering is a chemical agroecologist whose work is motivated by a love for nature. She has always been fascinated by the miniature: bugs, microbes, and chemicals occupy much of her thoughts. Outside of the lab, Caitlin enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and pets.
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Alexia Lanier
Biological Science Technician
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Alexia Lanier is a biological science technician in the Rering lab. She earned a bachelor's degree in Microbiology and Cell Science from the University of Florida in 2019 and worked for several years in veterinary science before transitioning to ARS. In her free time, Alexia enjoys spending time with her family, cats, and bunny.
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Stephanie Portillo
ORISE Research Intern
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Stephanie is an undergraduate student at the University of Florida majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Bioinformatics. Her research interests include exploring the effects of microbes on their hosts, as well as understanding how microbes interact with each other. She enjoys a combination of fieldwork, lab work, and data analysis, and she is passionate about improving processes to optimize efficiency. Her personal interests include playing tennis, gardening, and traveling with her family.
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Shivani Tata
Research Intern
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Shivani is a sophomore at the University of Florida majoring in Microbiology and Cell Science with a minor in Public Health. She is on the pre-dental track, with the goal of becoming a general dentist or specializing in orthodontics. She is from Tampa, FL, and her hobbies are tennis and dance. She competed in varsity tennis matches and Indian dance competitions, such as Bollywood and classical dance, growing up. Her research interests lie in the field of biology, as she has conducted numerous research projects during high school.