Courtney Reichhardt graduated from Montana State University with a BS in Chemistry in 2010. She then attended Stanford University where she joined Lynette Cegelski’s laboratory in the Department of Chemistry. There she pioneered the development of a novel approach that integrates solid-state NMR and electron microscopy analyses to quantitate the composition of biofilms. Her graduate research was supported by the Althouse Family Stanford Graduate Fellowship, and she earned her PhD in Chemistry in 2016.
To expand her skill set, Courtney opted to do her postdoctoral training in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Washington with Matthew Parsek. There she studied the protective intermolecular interactions in the biofilm matrix of the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa that allow for persistence in environments like those that it encounters during chronic cystic fibrosis lung infections. Her postdoctoral research was supported by several fellowships, and she was awarded two postdoc-to-faculty transition fellowships: a K99/R00 “Pathway to Independence” Award from the NIH (NIGMS) and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Postdoc-to-Faculty Award.
Courtney joined the Department of Chemistry at Washington University as an Assistant Professor in 2021. Her research program leverages her unique multidisciplinary training to answer important questions about the fundamental biophysical principles of biofilm assembly.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Nicole Fazio is a postdoctoral research associate in the Reichhardt group. She is originally from Littleton, CO and graduated from Colorado College with a BA in Biochemistry and Spanish in 2013. She did her graduate work at Washington University with Dr. Timothy Lohman in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Department. There, she studied the molecular mechanism of DNA unwinding by the E. coli helicase RecBCD. Nicole joined the Reichhardt lab in 2022 to study the molecular interactions of biofilm matrix components. Outside of the lab, Nicole enjoys running and attending to the demands of her two dogs, Todd and Hadi.
Graduate Students
Kathy Duong is a graduate student studying chemistry. She was born and raised in Wichita, KS. She attended Drury University and earned her Bachelor of Science in chemistry and biology. During her undergrad, Kathy participated in the Research Experience in the Natural Sciences (RENS) Fellowship that reinforced her love for chemistry. Outside of science, Kathy enjoys listening to music, animated content, and soccer as well as exploring the food scene and sharing meals with loved ones.
Kristen Amyx-Sherer is a graduate student in the chemistry program at WashU. She is from Michigan and graduated with her BA in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College. After graduating, Kristen was a research assistant at Wayne State University where she utilized Raman Spectroscopy to study clinical SARS-CoV-2 samples. Outside of lab, she enjoys drawing and painting as well as spending time with her cat.
Marshall Barrington is a graduate student in the Reichhardt group. He was born in Massachusetts, but has lived all over the U.S., including New Jersey, California, and Virginia. He graduated from Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville in May of 2020 with a Bachelor’s of Science in biology. He then worked for Prairie Farms as a quality control lab technician, performing various assays to ensure that the products were par to FDA safety regulations for public consumption. Marshall’s personal life involves kayaking with his girlfriend and dog, drone cinematography, playing video games, and watching movies.
Evan Moss is a graduate student in the Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis program at WashU. He is a native of St. Louis and graduated with a BA in Chemistry (Biochemistry Concentration) from WashU in 2023. He is a recipient of the David Lipkin Memorial Prize in Chemistry, awarded for his record of outstanding achievement in undergraduate research in organic/bio-organic chemistry within the Department of Chemistry at WashU. Outside of science, Evan enjoys obsessing over St. Louis sports, listening to music (he challenges you to guess his favorite genre), spending time with his girlfriend, playing video games, and relaxing with dogs.
Undergraduate Researchers
Amanda is an undergraduate student at WashU, where she plans to major in Biology (Biochemistry track). She is from a small town in Oklahoma. At WashU, she is a member of Deneb STARS and String Theory. In her free time, she likes exploring, watching animated films, sketching, and making other art crafts
Davidson
Colin is an undergraduate student at WashU, where he majors in biochemistry with a minor in math. He is from a small town in southwest Texas. On campus he works for the Taylor Family Center for Student Success and as a PLTL leader for calculus. Additionally, he is an exec in Heart for the Unhoused and plays music on the campus radio station KWUR. In his free time he enjoys climbing trees, finding new music, reading, and doodling.
Danny is an undergraduate student at WashU undergraduate student at WashU, planning to major in biology on the biochemistry track and minor in children’s studies. He is from Orlando, Florida, and at WashU, he is a member of gusoo, a food journalism club. Danny’s interests include thrifting, origami, playing Pokémon (Black 2 and Soulsliver), photography (Canon G11), and listening to music. Some of his favorite artists are Deftones, Sade, Mitski, The Internet, and Megan Thee Stallion.
Research staff
Mariah BoClair is a Laboratory Technician in the Reichhardt group. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo. In 2014, she graduated from Harris-Stowe State University with a BS in Biology. Mariah worked at Bayer in a microbial lab where she performed colony forming unit (CFU) testing on different bacterial species from liquid, gel, powder formulations and treated seeds. Outside of science, Mariah loves spending time with her husband and stepchildren, shopping, cooking, having game nights with friends and listening to music.
Previous lab members
Previous undergraduate researchers
Kejdi Kurti
Rose Abarbanel. Graduated in 2024; Currently a PhD student in the Washington University DBBS program
Evan Moss. Graduated in 2023; Currently a PhD student in the Washington University DBBS program
Sneha Manikandan
Students interested in doing their graduate studies in our lab should apply directly to the Washington University Department of Chemistry.
If you are interested in joining the lab as a postdoctoral researcher, please email Professor Reichhardt and include your CV and a description of how your research interests align with the lab’s goals.