Rafael Rivera-Lugo

Faculty host:  Christine Jacobs-Wagner

Affiliated with: Department of Biology, School of Humanities and Sciences and Sarafan ChEM-H

Rafael Rivera-Lugo earned a doctorate in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley in 2022. His interests lie in bacterial pathogenesis and host immune responses. His work highlighted the importance of bacterial metabolism in how diseases develop and progress (pathogenesis). At Stanford, Rivera-Lugo is investigating how Borrelia burgdorferi, the pathogen that causes Lyme disease, persists in mammalian hosts and the influence of the microbiome on Borrelia pathogenesis. As a Puerto Rican and first-generation student, he cares deeply about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and has been involved in various outreach activities where he has served as a mentor and advocate for minority students.