Lab Members
The Vargas-Muñiz Lab is deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the academic workforce. We firmly believe that diversity improves research and education quality, strengthening academia. Each individual unique background contributes a distinct perspective to address complex scientific problems. In agreement with our ideals, we welcome inquiring minds regardless of race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, veteran status, military obligation, marital status, and physical, mental, or sensory disability. If you are interested in doing research in the Vargas-Muñiz Lab, don't hesitate to contact Dr. Vargas-Muñiz.
Principal Investigator
José Vargas-Muñiz (He/His/Him)
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José Vargas-Muñiz is a molecular mycologist and an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech. He trained at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (B.S. Industrial Biotechnology) with Dr. Carlos Ríos-Velázquez, Duke University (Ph.D. Molecular Genetics and Microbiology) with Dr. William J. Steinbach, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Postdoc, Fungal Cell Biology) with Dr. Amy S. Gladfelter. Outside of the lab, José Vargas-Muñiz is active in the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanic and Native American in Science (SACNAS).
Lab Members

Rebecca Jean Busch (Ph.D. Student)
Rebecca Jean Busch is a PhD student and teaching assistant at the Virginia Tech. She is currently working in the Vargas-Muñiz Lab studying mycology/microbiology with a focus on fungal septins. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her M.Sc. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her certifications include TEFL from ITA Chicago and CPhT (ExCPT) with 5 years of experience.
Rebecca Jean Busch is a PhD student and teaching assistant at the Virginia Tech. She is currently working in the Vargas-Muñiz Lab studying mycology/microbiology with a focus on fungal septins. She received her B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her M.Sc. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her certifications include TEFL from ITA Chicago and CPhT (ExCPT) with 5 years of experience.

Tatiana Boluarte (Lab Manager)
Tatiana joined the Vargas-Muñiz Lab in the Spring of 2024. She currently assists the lab with cloning projects and strain maintenance and oversees the Chemical and Biological safety aspects of the lab.
Tatiana joined the Vargas-Muñiz Lab in the Spring of 2024. She currently assists the lab with cloning projects and strain maintenance and oversees the Chemical and Biological safety aspects of the lab.

Aidan Marshall (Lab Tech)
Aidan started as a laboratory technician for the Vargas-Muñiz lab at Virginia Tech in late February 2024. He is from Florida, where he received his BS from Florida Southern College in Environmental Studies. He is passionate about fungal diversity, systematics, and species conservation. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, foraging, climbing, and nature photography.
Aidan started as a laboratory technician for the Vargas-Muñiz lab at Virginia Tech in late February 2024. He is from Florida, where he received his BS from Florida Southern College in Environmental Studies. He is passionate about fungal diversity, systematics, and species conservation. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, foraging, climbing, and nature photography.

Zoe Johnson (Undergraduate Student)
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Joseph Barreiro (Undergraduate Student)
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Trevor Wilson (Undergraduate Student)
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Emma Esposito (Undergraduate Student)
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Join us!
For Postdoctoral Positions: We are currently recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to work on a project related to the role of the Aspergillus fumigatus' septin cytoskeleton in fungal response to caspofungin. To be considered, please apply using the following link: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/530500/postdoctoral-associate
Graduate Students Positions: If you are interested in doing your graduate work, you will need to apply to at least one of the following Graduate Programs:
Biological Sciences: https://www.biol.vt.edu/Graduates.html *
Infectious Diseases: https://infectiousdisease.fralinlifesci.vt.edu/igep1/education-program.html
Molecualr and Cell Biology: https://www.mcb.vt.edu/
*Although the Biological Sciences programs allow for direct admission, our lab only recruits students from this program who participate in rotations. No direct admission applications will be considered for the lab.
Feel free to mention Dr. Vargas-Muñiz on your application as one of the Faculty you are interested in working with. We are not taking applications outside of the applicant pool to this program (i.e., applications sent to Dr. Vargas-Muñiz email). Please apply to at least one of the above graduate programs to be considered for admission. If you don't know which would be a good fit, please contact Dr. Vargas-Muñiz; he can advise which would be a better fit.
Undergraduate Students: If you want to do an undergraduate research project with us, please contact Dr. Vargas-Muñiz.
Other Opportunities to work with us:
Postbac: We are part of the VT PREP Scholar program (https://prep.apsc.vt.edu/) and will happily host you during your rotation or postbac tenure at VT.
Staff Scientist: We are not currently recruiting staff scientists in our lab. We will post it here if any position opens up.
For Postdoctoral Positions: We are currently recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to work on a project related to the role of the Aspergillus fumigatus' septin cytoskeleton in fungal response to caspofungin. To be considered, please apply using the following link: https://careers.pageuppeople.com/968/cw/en-us/job/530500/postdoctoral-associate
Graduate Students Positions: If you are interested in doing your graduate work, you will need to apply to at least one of the following Graduate Programs:
Biological Sciences: https://www.biol.vt.edu/Graduates.html *
Infectious Diseases: https://infectiousdisease.fralinlifesci.vt.edu/igep1/education-program.html
Molecualr and Cell Biology: https://www.mcb.vt.edu/
*Although the Biological Sciences programs allow for direct admission, our lab only recruits students from this program who participate in rotations. No direct admission applications will be considered for the lab.
Feel free to mention Dr. Vargas-Muñiz on your application as one of the Faculty you are interested in working with. We are not taking applications outside of the applicant pool to this program (i.e., applications sent to Dr. Vargas-Muñiz email). Please apply to at least one of the above graduate programs to be considered for admission. If you don't know which would be a good fit, please contact Dr. Vargas-Muñiz; he can advise which would be a better fit.
Undergraduate Students: If you want to do an undergraduate research project with us, please contact Dr. Vargas-Muñiz.
Other Opportunities to work with us:
Postbac: We are part of the VT PREP Scholar program (https://prep.apsc.vt.edu/) and will happily host you during your rotation or postbac tenure at VT.
Staff Scientist: We are not currently recruiting staff scientists in our lab. We will post it here if any position opens up.
Former Lab Members
Makenzie Bullard (M.Sc., Fall 2022-Spring 2024)
Carson Doty (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Wyatt Boyer (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Stephanie Anthonies (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Morgan Burmeister (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Fall 2022)
Alban Sinani (undergraduate, Fall 2021)
Sarah Lukavsky (undergraduate, Spring 2021)
Carson Doty (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Wyatt Boyer (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Stephanie Anthonies (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Spring 2023)
Morgan Burmeister (undergraduate, Fall 2021-Fall 2022)
Alban Sinani (undergraduate, Fall 2021)
Sarah Lukavsky (undergraduate, Spring 2021)