Meet our Team
Paul Bates
Principal Investigator
pbates@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Faculty Profile Page
Paul graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Biochemistry in 1979, after which he completed his PhD at Michigan State University in Biochemistry in 1985. He did a postdoc at University of California San Francisco in Harold Varmus' lab and accepted a faculty position at the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. Reflecting Paul’s broad interests, his lab has studied a range of topics and a variety of viruses during his time at Penn. You can often find Paul in the lab either doing experiments or chatting with lab members. By the time you leave his lab you will not only know how to troubleshoot experiments, discuss a paper, and present your data, but also how to fix broken lab equipment or even rewire your house.
Sarah Dysinger
Graduate Student
sarahdy@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
After completing her dual B.S. degrees in genetics and biology at the University of New Mexico, Sarah pursued a post-baccalaureate program in infectious diseases at the University of Georgia. Currently, she is conducting research in the Bates lab to explore the range of disease prevalence and severity in viruses of the California Serogroup. Beyond her scientific pursuits, Sarah enjoys reading, working on craft projects, and scouring thrift stores. She will also try to befriend any dog she sees.
Rachel Erickson
Graduate Student
rachel.erickson@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Rachel graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.S. in Molecular Biology in 2020. She did a postbac at the NIH studying SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis before coming to UPenn where she joined the Bates lab in June 2022. Her research focuses on developing a VSV-vectored vaccine for Machupo virus, a hemorrhagic-fever causing arenavirus. Rachel loves camping, repurposing old furniture, and finding the best pizza in Philly.
Raegan Petch
Rotation Student
rpetch@upenn.edu
Raegan graduated from Colorado State University in 2021 with a B.S. in Microbiology and minors in Spanish and Chemistry. She moved to Philadelphia and UPenn for the Combined VMD/PhD Program in the fall of 2021, and she is interested in studying host-virus interactions, viral evolution, and zoonotic disease. In her free time, Raegan loves hiking and camping (especially with her dog), painting, and seeking out the best coffee and pie in the city.
Yueqing Chen
Visiting Scholar
yueqing.chen@pennmedicine.upenn.edu
Yueqing graduated from Zhejiang University with a degree to practice medicine. She shifted her career from a clinical to a research focus after realizing her passion for viral vaccine research. She has worked at the Institute of Virological Diseases at Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences for over two decades. During this time she also earned her master’s degree in molecular virology. She joined the Bates Lab as a visiting scholar in May 2022. Her research centers on developing a recombinant VSV oncolytic vaccine. Outside of work, Yueqing enjoys hiking in national parks and spending time with her family and three cats.