2017 Aug
The summer is almost over … our group was very busy during the summer: Dr. Toth and Dr. Papp presented the lab’s new collaborative genomics-based study on the EMBO Epigenetics & Infection conference in Paris. This newly organized exciting EMBO conference brought together researchers with various background (microbiology / immunology / signaling / epigenetics) stimulating new ideas for our research as well.
As listed below, the lab underwent significant changes over the past months, as new students joined our team: We are also excited to announce that we have our 1st PhD student joining the lab: Gavin Golas, a 4th year PhD student. Welcome to the lab, Gavin! 
Gavin is a PhD student in the Interdisciplinary PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (IDP) with Microbiology & Immunology concentration. Further information about this great program can be found here:
PhD program – IDP Immunology & Microbiology Concentration
Gavin has started his graduate studies in the laboratory of Dr. Shannon Wallet in the Department of Oral Biology in 2015. Gavin has developed a strong background and deep interest in the field of immunology and viral sensing mechanisms by the epithelium. After starting in the Toth lab in August, Gavin will continue to pursue his interest in viral immune evasion mechanisms, while switching to our excellent viral infection model system (KSHV infection in the oral epithelium). Gavin is continuously supported by an outstanding Training Grant in Oral Biology, which was awarded to UFCD. The Oral Biology Training Program is described here:
UFCD Oral Biology Training Program
2017 July
James has completed the UFCD Summer Research Program and successfully presented his research project. James is now starting as a DMD/PhD student at UF. Good luck with your dental school studies! James, we are grateful for your extremely hard work and dedication to the lab in the past 11 months! Great job! Fortunately, James remains associated with the lab as a volunteer research student during his dental studies. Hope to see you coming back full time to the lab as a PhD student in ~3 years!
In the meantime, 3 new highly motivated undergraduate students started in the lab this summer: Kyra, Juan and Thomas. Welcome to the lab! Good luck with your research projects!
2017 June
Dr. Richard Smindak has joined the lab in June as a postdoctoral research associate. Congrats to your recent successful PhD defense at the University of Virginia! Glad to have you join the lab, Richard!
2017 May
Congrats to James! James has been accepted to the UFCD “Summer Research Program”. James is working on his KSHV research project in the lab as a student until starting as a DMD/PhD student in the Fall, here at UFCD. James will present his research findings in an oral presentation at the end of this program, in July. This excellent Program allows incoming students to gain research experience with a UFCD faculty mentor before starting the dental school.
2017 March
Aria Sharma, our UFCD research-track dental student travelled to Ambato, Ecuador this spring break on a dental mission trip with faculty and students from the UF College of Dentistry. The group was able to provide both prophylactic and emergent care for nearly six hundred residents.
2017 Feb
James just got accepted to University of Florida joint DMD/PhD program! CONGRATS James! He will start his studies in Fall – but until then, we are glad he is here and progressing well on his exciting KSHV project. We hope to see you back in the lab in the future!
2017 Jan
Aria Sharma (2nd year dental student in UF College of Dentistry) has joined the Toth lab recently, as part of a collaborative team effort between Dr. Toth and Dr. Papp. Aria has been working together with Dr. Papp since last summer. Aria is an excellent, committed dental student with previous research background. Welcome to the lab!
Aria is now accepted to the UF DMD Research Track Program. CONGRATS Aria! Aria is starting her own project focusing on KSHV oral infection in the lab and will be working with us for the next 2 years. Aria will be co-mentored by Dr. Toth and Dr. Papp during her study. She is a great asset to our research program. If you are interested in such research programs, check out here:
2016 Dec
We are looking for collaborators and motivated students to work with us on our new collaborative KSHV cellular transcriptional reprogramming projects (Toth lab with reprogramming & genomics expert collaborator Dr. Bernadett Papp, also a new faculty at UF). Check out further information about the research program of Dr. Papp:
Dr. Bernadett Papp – research program info …
The team is growing: Dr. Papp has recently started to work with a great motivated undergrad from UF, Naeem Motlagh, who is going to pursue a project about the role of a KSHV protein in transcriptional reprogramming of the host cells during reactivation. Welcome to our team, Naeem!
Naeem has been awarded to become a “UF Emerging Scholar”. CONGRATS Naeem!
We are always looking for motivated undergrads who are interested in participating in our research and would like to join similar programs! Check out the info about the program here:
info about UF Scholar Programs can be found here…
2016 Sep
The lab is growing: James and Paul join the lab as research assistants. They are bringing complementary expertise to the lab. We are very excited to have you starting with us. Welcome to the lab!
2016 Aug
Lab renovations are done, we are all moved in. Our new fully equipped lab is ready:
2016 June
Our laboratory is officially open! DAY 1….
We are at the University of Florida, College of Dentistry (UFCD, Department of Oral Biology). You can read more about us at:
Zsolt Toth’s laboratory: further info
Our new paper revealing the role of viral protein LANA in recruitment of cellular repressors to KSHV genome during infection – is now accepted in PLoS Pathogens!
Click here to read our publication…
