Kyle Gontjes, MPH
Ph.D. Candidate in Microbiology & Immunology
About MeA native of Grand Rapids, I graduated from Calvin University in 2017 with a B.Sc. in Biology.
I followed my passion for infection prevention to the University of Michigan School of Public Health, where I completed an MPH in Hospital & Molecular Epidemiology in 2020. There, I worked for Dr. Lona Mody, of the Division of Geriatric & Palliative Medicine and Center for Research and Innovation in Special Populations (CRIISP), studying antibiotic-resistant bacteria and infection prevention in hospitals and nursing homes. Currently, I am in my 4th year of a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology. I work with Dr. Evan Snitkin to leverage clinical metadata and whole-genome sequencing to study the evolution and spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in complex patient populations, including long-term acute care hospitals and households. |
Research InterestsMy career goal is to develop innovative solutions to combat antibiotic resistance by applying advanced genomics and data analysis methods to identify patient and microbial features that drive the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
My Interests:
Methods of Interest:
|
Extracurricular InterestsWhen I am not in the lab, I am an armchair philosopher, pop culture addict, and a regular member of book clubs.
My Current Philosophical Inquiry: I am working on a series of essays, entitled Collisions of the Health - Finding Significance in the Ordinary. There, I argue that attentiveness to the mundane moments of life can sharpen our understanding of human existence. Cultural Discerner at Heart: I love to engage with pop culture to discover the beauty of every square inch of creation. I also enjoy book clubs. I have led a book club exploring St. Augustine's Confessions and a book study of Visions of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Stephen Garber. |
Future PlansAs a trainee in Dr. Evan Snitkin's lab, I plan to:
I hope to conduct infectious disease research in a team science setting that will influence clinical care and infection prevention. I aim to learn more about opportunities in microbial genomics, infection prevention, and public health. If you know of any relevant opportunities, please contact me at [email protected] |