David Leib, PhD
PI. David grew up in London, England, within shouting distance of Wembley Stadium, the home of football (a.k.a. soccer). He had an early fascination with microbiology watching Paramecia and amoebae crawling in pond water under his toy microscope. He attended Birmingham University for a BSc in biology, and then Liverpool University for his PhD working on non-human primate herpesviruses. He then spent 3 years in Priscilla Schaffer's lab at Harvard before taking a faculty position at Washington University in St. Louis. After 19 wonderful years there he moved the lab to Dartmouth in 2009. When not in lab, David enjoys his family, hiking, playing soccer, coaching soccer, watching soccer, and never stops dreaming that England will win the World Cup again.
Audra Charron, PhD
Senior Research Scientist. Audra has suspended her nomadic lifestyle for the time being, having been pulled back by the formidable tractor beam of her native NH following many years away. Audra’s graduate and post-doctoral training was centered around cell biology and microbiology, with a focus on cellular polarity and host-pathogen interactions. In the Leib lab, Audra investigates the molecular basis of immunomodulation by herpesviruses, hoping to discover a link between virus-altered mitochondrial energetics and neuronal pathogenesis. Audra especially enjoys her roles in alternately inspiring David’s scientific pet projects and keeping him in line. When not at work she is usually found playing with her herbal remedy plant allies, immersed in yet another home project, running the impossible hills near home, or enjoying leisure time with her family.
Jesse Mehrbach
Technician. Jesse is a graduate of the University of Chicago and has studied biotechnology and music. He was born in Boston and grew up in the Upper Valley area. In his 8th grade yearbook he predicted that he would be a virologist, so he's very excited to be working with HSV. He enjoys fencing and board games, and his favorite animal is the cuttlefish.
Evelyn Turnbaugh
Nisali Mendis
Graduate Student, MCB. Nisali, who hails from the tiny island of Sri Lanka, holds two B.Sc. degrees -- one in Zoology from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, and another in Chemistry from the College of Chemical Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, Sri Lanka. She is currently co-mentored by Dr. Margaret Ackerman and Dr. David Leib, and her research focuses on leveraging antibodies to better understand host–virus interactions and enhance antiviral strategies against the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). When she’s not bouncing between the two labs, Nisali enjoys reading, watching movies, going on leisurely walks, and sending Instagram reels to her twin, Thisali!
Samin Kim, PhD
Scientist. I was born and raised in Korea, where my academic path began. My passion for microbiology led me to Japan, where I pursued and earned my Ph.D. at Kyushu University. My research there focused on foodborne pathogens Bacillus cereus. After completing my doctoral studies, I ventured into the world of molecular microbiology, conducting research at Tufts Medical School and Dartmouth Medical School. These experiences further deepened my expertise and broadened my scientific horizons. Eventually, I returned to Korea, transitioning from research to education. For three years, I had the privilege of lecturing at various universities, sharing my knowledge with aspiring college students. Following that, I spent seven fulfilling years teaching at an international high school in Seoul, where I enjoyed guiding young and promising students. Now, I've made my way back to the Upper Valley, drawn by the desire to be closer to my family, wife and three kids, who reside in Norwich, Vermont. It's wonderful to be back in this community. Beyond my professional life, I'm a huge enthusiast of high school sports. This passion led me to coach both the Middle School and High School boys' volleyball teams. I'm particularly proud that last year, the Middle School boys' team I coached at the international school won the championship! I look forward to connecting with the community here and embracing new opportunities.
Zoé Manning
Undergraduate student. Zoé is an undergraduate student at Dartmouth College from Denver, Colorado, currently pursuing her B.A. in Neuroscience on the pre-med track. She’s passionate about anything involving the water, her cats, and all things food-related. In the lab, Zoe is working on a neonatal HSV detection project and enjoys learning from other lab members as she deepens her research experience. Her interests in medicine and child health are driving her toward a future in pediatrics or infectious disease.
Sarah Currey
Technician. Sarah Currey grew up in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and moved to the Upper Valley to attend Dartmouth College, where she graduated with a major in Neuroscience with a minor in Hispanic and Lusophone studies. In the lab, she works on the development of a vaccine candidate against HSV and tests monoclonal antibody neutralization capability on clinical strains. Outside of the lab, Sarah spends her time applying to medical schools, complaining about applying to medical schools, and refreshing her email. She enjoys knitting, playing the saxophone, and ice hockey.
Salvador Cucho
Technician. Born in the deserts of Peru, Salvador moved to the capital to obtain his B.E. in Bioengineering at the University of Engineering and Technology of Peru. There, he worked on the recombinant production of bacteriophage enzymes against drug-resistant Salmonella Infantis. He came to the US to pursue his Master’s in Biological Engineering at the Thayer School of Engineering. Now, he seeks to deepen his experience combating infectious diseases, specifically on immune protection against HSV. When not in the lab, Salvador has a marvelous time cooking international cuisine, running, and avoiding doing nothing.
Kirsten Jacob
Technician. Kirsten came to Dartmouth with 25+ years of experience in virus authentication, recombinant AAV production, mammalian cell biology, and ISO‑aligned quality systems. Led BSL‑2/2+ virology QC at ATCC, taught biology and microbiology at NVCC, and contributed to endocrine gene‑regulation research at NYU and gene‑therapy programs at Amgen. She earned an M.S. in Biology from NYU. Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors with her dog, and staying active in her community. She loves thrifting for unique finds, collecting, and diving into a good book. She has a long‑standing love of music and previously worked seasonally at an outdoor concert venue, where she enjoyed the energy of live performances.