Current Group Members

she/her

blackwell at chem.wisc.edu

University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professor, 2011-present
Associate Professor, 2008-2011
Assistant Professor, 2002-2008

Education

Postdoc, Harvard University, 1999-2002
Ph.D. Chemistry – California Institute of Technology, 1999
B.A. Oberlin College, 1994

Helen grew up on the east side of Cleveland, OH (Shaker Heights) and loves living in the Midwest. Outside of her lab, she likes spending time with her husband and two kids, travelling, reading all sorts of books, cooking, rooting for WI sports, and long walks in the beautiful Madison area.

clay5 at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2023
B.S. in Chemistry — Furman University (2018)
Ph.D. in Chemistry — Stanford University (2023, Advisor: Justin Du Bois)

Clay works on developing small molecule inhibitors of agr quorum sensing in gram positive bacteria. After obtaining a B.S. in chemistry from Furman University in Greenville S.C., Clay completed graduate work in the laboratory of Justin Du Bois at Stanford University studying the total synthesis of bis-guanidinium neurotoxins. Outside of lab, Clay enjoys rock climbing, running, and watching bad science fiction.

dwidner at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2021
B.S. in Biochemistry — University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point (2014)
Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry — Yale University (2021, Advisor: Ronald Breaker)

she/her
eeisenbraun at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2019

B.A. in Chemistry and Biochemistry – Oberlin College, 2019

Emma works on creating chemical probes and biological tools to study how Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis communicate and regulate virulence. She is from Albany, NY and likes running and watching reality television.

aguirrefigue at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2020

B.S. in Chemistry – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2020

jtyork2 at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2020
B.S. in Chemistry – University of Texas at Austin, 2020

Jordan investigates the effects of combining quorum sensing modulators and antibiotics in Gram positive species and how quorum sensing may influence S. aureus virulence in mouse models of infection. Outside of the lab, she enjoys hiking, reading, and a little triathlon training.

he/him
vulpis at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2021
B. S. in Chemistry – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2021

Troy works on discovering and developing new chemical tools to interfere with quorum sensing in Gram-positive species, with a particular interest in mixed microbial communities containing Staphylococcus species. Outside of lab, he enjoys playing recreational basketball and baseball and exploring new restaurants around Madison.

she/her
stoutland at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2021
B.A. in Chemistry and Studio Art – Carleton College, 2021

Irene works on understanding the mechanisms and structure of LuxR-type receptors in Gram negative bacteria. She originally hails from MN and enjoys gardening, art projects, and exploring natural areas around Madison.

she/her
icannell at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2022
B. A. in Chemistry — Carleton College, 2022

Isabel grew up in San José, CA, and moved to MN to attend Carleton College, where she majored in chemistry and worked on organocatalysis mechanism research with Prof. Gretchen Hofmeister. She also spent a summer at Virginia Tech with Prof. Emily Mevers working on natural product discovery. In the Blackwell lab, her research focuses on synthesizing AHL-like probes to understand the structure-activity relationship between AHLs and quorum sensing agonism and antagonism in LuxR-type receptors. Outside of lab, she enjoys spending time being active outdoors, playing board games and tabletop roleplaying games, and playing the piano.

anelson55 at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2022

B.S. in Chemistry — Morningside University, 2021

MHS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology — Johns Hopkins University

she/her

slsimonson at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2022
B.S. in Chemistry — Monmouth College, 2022

Sara grew up in Monmouth Il and stayed there to attend Monmouth College until 2022. In the Blackwell Lab, Sara works on characterizing key ligand:receptor and ligand:membrane interactions involved in Gram-negative quorum sensing. Outside of lab, she likes to explore the outdoors, be active with friends, and find animals to pet.

she/her
mnmcguire at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2023
B.S. in Chemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology — Belhaven University, 2023

Madison is originally from Arkansas and she attended Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi, where she double majored in Chemistry and in Cellular and Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate, she worked with Professor Reid Bishop to study the thermodynamics of Warfarin binding to human serum albumin. She also participated in an REU at the University of Mississippi synthesizing near-infrared fluorophores for biological imaging. Now, Madison synthesizes novel Gram-negative quorum sensing modulators and studies their activities. When she’s not in lab, Madison loves spending time with friends, reading, and playing sports.

she/her
nbeebe at wisc.edu

Joined In: 2024
B. A. in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology — Hamilton College, 2024

Natalie grew up in Glenmoore, PA. While at Hamilton, Natalie majored in Biochemistry and worked in Dr. Ryan Martinie’s lab studying the biosynthesis of a natural product, Pantocin A. Outside of lab, she enjoys skiing, softball, hiking and movie nights with friends.

Joined In: 2022

Joined In: 2022

Joined in: 2023

Joined In: 2023