Education

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale
Master of Science, Department of Pathology, University of Iowa

Research

My research in the Badovinac lab focuses on primary vs repeatedly-antigen stimulated memory CD8+ T cells. I am interested in differential susceptibility of these cells to radiation-induced cell death and phenotype, as well as investigating differences of these cells in SPfree versus SPexp mouse models.

Outside Interests

I enjoy reading, embroidery, puzzles, and playing board games.

Publications associated with the lab:

1. Kannan SK, TJ Turner, M Heidarian, MR Mix, CY Kim, C Fain, SK Shahi, EA Escue, I Ezeilo, TS Griffith, AK Mangalam, JT Harty, and  VP Badovinac. Whole-body irradiation causes long-term impairments in the maintenance and function of naïve CD4 T cells specific for self- and non-self antigens. J Immunol in press (2026)
2. Escue EA, M Heidarian, SK Kannan, M Rao, SA Arumugam, JT Harty, and  VP Badovinac. The ability of memory CD8 T cell subsets to numerically and functionally recover following whole body irradiation is influenced by their history of cognate antigen exposures. J Immunol 214, 2617-2629 (2025) [PubMed]
3. Madison RM, van de Wall S, M Heidarian, EA Escue, CE Fain, LL Pewe, LS Hancox, SA Arumugam, CM Sievers, VP Badovinac*, and JT Harty*. Repetitive antigen stimulation in the periphery dictates the composition and recall responses of brain-resident memory CD8 T cells. Cell Rep 44: 115247(2025)[PubMed]