MEMBERS

Marian Kohut

Marian Kohut completed a B.A. in Biology from the University of Chicago, an M.S. in Physiology from Penn State University, PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of South Carolina with an emphasis on exercise immunology, and Postdoctoral Training in Psychoneuroimmunology at the University of Rochester under the mentorship of Bob Ader (founder of Psychoneuroimmunology).  She has been a faculty member at Iowa State University for over 20 years. She is currently the Barbara E. Forker Endowed Professor in the home department of Kinesiology with appointments in Immunobiology, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and Microbiology, Dr. Kohut has a long-standing interest in the integration of physiological processes and immune responses. Her early research focused on the physiological and neuroendocrine effects on the host immune response to viral infections, particularly in the context of aging or exercise. With recent discoveries in the field of immunometabolism, her current research seeks to understand how metabolic alterations at a systemic level influence immune cell function, including the reprogramming of immune cell metabolism in response to different physiological or pathological states, and how these changes affect immune cell activation, differentiation, and long-term memory. The goal is to unravel how metabolic and stress signals regulate immune responses and contribute to health and disease. These discovery-based studies have expanded to include the development of therapeutic options, primarily through her partnership with the Nanovaccine Institute. In this collaboration, she applies her expertise in aging, immunity, and the metabolism of stressors to enhance existing vaccines and create new therapeutic solutions

Kaitlyn Holden
Postdoc

Alaric Siddoway
Postdoc

Zoe Sirotiak
PhD Student

Promit Sinha Roy
PhD Student

Amali Stephens
PhD Student

Gunar Moen
Undergrad RA

Catarina Bittencourt
Undergrad RA

Tyler Thompson
Undergrad RA

list coming soon