Kristen Merino (she/her)

Kristen has been at Tulane for roughly 15 years initially starting as a Master’s student in 2008, and then for her PhD, and then as a Post-doctoral fellow. She then received a research associateship through the National Academies to work at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, in the Clinical Trial Center. She is now currently employed as a Research Manager in the Nonhuman Primate Core Cellular Immunology Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development at the TNPRC. Most of her research career has aimed to evaluate malaria, HIV, and COVID immunology, but has also included work to develop vaccine and therapeutic efforts targeted for Zika, yellow fever, Chikungunya, dengue, hantaviruses, and TB. 

As her institutional experience accumulates, she more readily recognizes new opportunities for change and growth. She is working to strengthen her leadership abilities in order to better support the Tulane community. When she is not working, Kristen most enjoys gardening, dancing, and quality time with loved ones.