Marques Lab Group Photo

Our Team

Graduate researchers, summer scholars, and undergraduate scientists advancing vaccine research at USM.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Alexandre F. Marques
Principal Investigator
Dr. Alexandre F. Marques
Assistant Professor · Department of Biological Sciences · USM
Dr. Marques received his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of São Paulo, Brazil (2007), followed by postdoctoral training at the University of Texas (2007–2013). He served as Assistant Professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil (2013–2022), Visiting Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology (2017), and Principal Research Scientist at Georgia Tech (2018–2023) before joining USM. His lab focuses on developing VLP-based vaccines against Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi, and tick-borne diseases using α-Gal carbohydrates and peptide antigens.

Postdoctoral Researchers

Edward Valencia Ayala
Edward Valencia Ayala
Postdoctoral Researcher
Biological Sciences

Graduate Students

Godspower Okeke
Godspower N. Okeke
Ph.D. Candidate
Biological Sciences
Ugochukwu Oduwe
Ugochukwu K. Oduwe
Ph.D. Candidate
Biological Sciences
Giorgi Kenkebashvili
Giorgi Kenkebashvili
Ph.D. Candidate
Biological Sciences
Shefa Tabassum
Shefa Tabassum
Ph.D. Candidate
Biological Sciences
Bradley Hopkins
Bradley Hopkins
Ph.D. Candidate
Biological Sciences

Summer Researchers MS-INBRE 2026

The Marques Lab participates in the Mississippi INBRE (IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence) program, an NIH/NIGMS-funded initiative that places undergraduate students in active research environments across Mississippi to accelerate biomedical research training.

Reed Lambert
Reed Lambert
Summer Researcher
MS-INBRE 2026
Lemly Bumgarner
Lemly Bumgarner
Summer Researcher
MS-INBRE 2026

Undergraduate Researchers

DC
Damien Crawford
Undergraduate Researcher
DP
Danielle Sei Pereira
Undergraduate Researcher
FB
Faith Brown
Undergraduate Researcher
GG
Georgia Gibson
Undergraduate Researcher
HH
Harlie Hutton
Undergraduate Researcher
JB
Jahzaria Bayless
Undergraduate Researcher
MF
Madelyn Futral
Undergraduate Researcher
NB
Noah Burnside
Undergraduate Researcher
PP
Pilar Paredes
Undergraduate Researcher
RH
Ramya Hudnall
Undergraduate Researcher
SM
Sebastien Malbrough
Undergraduate Researcher
Interested in Joining?

We Welcome Motivated Students

The Marques Lab welcomes prospective graduate students, undergraduates, and visiting scholars with interest in parasitology, immunology, and vaccine development. We particularly encourage applications from students from underrepresented backgrounds.

Contact Dr. Marques