Relman Lab Members
David Relman
Primary Investigator
David A. Relman, MD is the Thomas C. and Joan M. Merigan Professor in Medicine, and Microbiology & Immunology, and Co-Director of the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University. He is also Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Relman’s research focus is the human indigenous microbiota, and the identification of previously-unrecognized microbial agents of disease. He has advised the U.S. Government on emerging infectious diseases, human-microbe interactions, and future biological threats. He is Chair of the Forum on Microbial Threats at the Institute of Medicine (National Academies of Science) and Past President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology, and a Member of the National Academy of Medicine.
Robert Pesich
Lab Manager / Author / Poet
Research Scientists
Elizabeth Costello
Research Scientist
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Colorado Boulder (2007)
Bachelor of Science, Cornell University (1999)
Research Projects:
Pregnancy and the Human Microbiome
The Microbiome in Early Childhood
Alexandra Switzer
Research Scientist
PhD, Stanford School of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology (2019)
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Medicine (2009)
Masters of Preventative Vet Med, University of California at Davis, Public Health & Zoonoses (2013)
Bachelor of Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Marine Biology (2003)
Research Projects:
Eitan Yaffe
Research Scientist
Doctor of Philosophy, Weizmann Institute of Science (2013)
Master of Science, Tel Aviv University (2007)
Bachelor of Science, The Hebrew University (2001)
Research Projects:
Resilience in the Human Microbiome
Microbiome Evolution Under Antibiotic Pressure
Postdoctoral Research Fellows
Stephanie Bachas-Daunert
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University (2021)
Master of Science in Engineering, Stanford University (2012)
Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Princeton University (2010)
Fellowships:
American Society of Microbiology Robert D. Watkins Graduate Research Fellowship (2016-present)
NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA Diversity Predoctoral Fellowship (2013-2016)
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2010-2013)
Stanford University Engineering Dean's Doctoral 3D Diversity Fellowship (2010-2012)
Research Projects:
Vanessa El Kamari
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Residency, Case Western Reserve University, Internal Medicine (2022)
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Case Western Reserve University (2019)
MD, American University of Beirut, Medicine (2016)
BS, American University of Beirut, Chemistry; Biology (2012)
Research Projects:
Diana Tordoff
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Doctor of Philosophy, University of Washington (2022)
Masters of Public Health, University of Washington (2018)
Bachelor of Arts, Vassar College (2011)
