JOSEPH SZULE, PH.D.
Director | Image Analysis Laboratory (IAL);
Senior Scientist | Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
Tel: 979.845.9527 | Email: jszule@cvm.tamu.edu
Education
- B.Sc., Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada, 1999
- M.Sc., Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada, 2001
- Ph.D., Neuroscience, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2005
- Postdoctoral, Neurobiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 2009
- Postdoctoral, Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2012
Professional Experience/Academic Appointments
- Director, IAL, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), Texas A&M University, 2025–present
- Senior Scientist, Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB), Texas A&M University, 2025–present
- Research Assistant Professor, VTPB, Texas A&M University, 2019-2025
- Research Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, 2012-2018
Research Interests
- Electron microscopy and electron tomography applications
- Neurobiology: molecular mechanisms of neurotransmitter secretion and synaptic transmission
- Effects of nanoplastics on cellular structure and function
ROBERT C. BURGHARDT, PH.D.
Senior Professor | IAL;
Professor Emeritus | Veterinary Integrative Biosciences (VIBS)
Tel: 979.862.4083 | Email: rburghardt@cvm.tamu.edu
Education
- B.S., University of Michigan, 1969
- M.S., Ph.D. Wayne State University, 1973, 1976
- Postdoctoral, Harvard Medical School, 1976-78
Professional Experience/Academic Appointments
- Senior Professor, IAL
- Professor Emeritus, VIBS
- Director, IAL
- Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Studies, VMBS
- Professor, VIBS
- Member, Faculties of Toxicology & Reproductive Biology
Research Interests
- Toxicology: mechanisms of cellular injury; non-invasive cellular imaging; in situ analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism
- Reproductive biology: uterine biology & pregnancy, mechanobiology of pregnancy
SAUGATA MAHAPATRA, PH.D.
Associate Research Scientist
Tel: 979.458.1149 | Email: saugata@tamu.edu
Education
- Ph.D., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 2011
- M.S., Microbiology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India, 2003
- B.S., Zoology, Fakir Mohan University, Balasore, India, 2000
Professional Experience/Academic Appointments
- Associate Research Scientist, IAL, VIBS, 2023-Present
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Microbial Pathogenesis & Immunology, Texas A&M Health Science Center, 2016-2023
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, 2014-2016
- Postdoctoral Associate, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Cornell University, 2011-2014
Research Interests
- Host-pathogen interactions
- Cellular and molecular interactions of Coxiellae and Chlamydiae species with their hosts
- Cell biology, immunology, and the use of non-invasive imaging technologies to investigate cellular signaling pathways and homeostasis mechanisms during infection
ERNESTO RAMOS, M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Tel: 979.845.8333 | Email: eramos@cvm.tamu.edu
Education
- M.S., Entomology, Texas A&M University, 2015
- B.S., Genetics, Texas A&M University, 2002
Professional Experience/Academic Appointments
- Senior Research Associate, IAL, 2024-present
- Research Assistant, IAL, 2008-2024
- Research Assistant, Animal Science, Texas A&M University, 2003-2007
IGBAL AWOODA, M.D., M.S.
Research Assistant
Tel: 979.845.8333 | Email: iawooda@cvm.tamu.edu
Education
- M.S., Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, 2005
- M.D., University of Khartoum, Sudan 1982
Professional Experience/Academic Appointments
- Research Assistant, IAL, 2000-present
- Research Assistant, Animal Science, Texas A&M University, 2003-2007
