Our Research Center

The Robichuax Lab is located in the Erma Byrd Biomedical Research Center, which is part of the Robert C. Byrd Health Science Center at West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV

The Lab

Top Row, Pictured left to right: Sophie Crowder, Kristen Haggerty, Lauren Sexton, Matthew Humbert, and Michael Robichaux

Bottom Row: Samantha Thompson, Shannon Eshelman, and Maryam Hekmatara

Dr. Michael Robichaux

Principal Investigator

Dr. Robichaux was born and raised in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Nicholls State University in 2008, and that same year he entered the Ph.D. program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) in Dallas, Texas. As a graduate student, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Cowan in the Department of Neuroscience and began research on the neurodevelopmental process known as axon guidance using a variety of mouse genetic models and tissue culture systems. He earned his Ph.D. in 2013 and then joined the laboratory of Dr. Ted Wensel at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas as a postdoctoral research fellow. In Dr. Wensel’s lab, he began studying the fine, subcellular processes of photoreceptor neurons of the retina and the relationship of these processes to a variety of eye diseases. During this time, Dr. Robichaux developed novel applications of advanced microscopies, such as electron microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, to discover new molecular details in photoreceptors. His work was presented at international vision research conferences, including the annual meetings of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). In 2020 Dr. Robichaux was hired as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University with a dual appointment in the Department of Biochemistry.

Dr. Robichaux and his wife (Betsy) have 3 kids (Jackson, Stephen and Mary-Eleanor). He has an ambivalent relationship with a black cat (Licorice). After family and science, he likes to read giant fantasy books and comic books.

Kristen Haggerty

Lab Technician

Kristen is originally from Shinnston, West Virginia. She earned both her Bachelor of Science in Human Biology, in spring 2018, and her Master of Science in Biology, in spring 2020, from West Liberty University, located in Wheeling, West Virginia. During her time at West Liberty University she worked in the research laboratory of Dr. Joseph Horzempa studying the Category A Bioterrorism agent Francisella tularensis. She successfully defended her thesis titled 'The Development of Molecular Tools and Optimization of in vitro Methods to Investigate Erythrocyte Invasion by Francisella tularensis' in May of 2020. During her undergraduate career she held multiple summer internships, including the West Virginia-IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (WV-INBRE) summer fellowship at West Virginia University and the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) at West Liberty University. Following the completion of her Master degree she began working as a medical lab technician at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). She joined Dr. Michael Robichaux's lab as the biological technician in April 2021.

When she is not in the research lab she can be found with her dog, Bailey, likely playing fetch. She is also an avid fan of Marvel Comics and Star Wars. Also, when not in a global pandemic, Kristen enjoys attending music concerts.

Shannon Eshelman

Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D. Candidate

Shannon is originally from Point Pleasant, West Virginia and graduated in 2021 from the University of Charleston, WV with a dual degree in biology and chemistry. Her undergraduate research dealt with the fluorescence spectroscopy of uranyl nitrate with aromatic amines, facilitated by Dr. Xiaoping Sun.
She is currently a graduate student in the biochemistry program and joined the Robichaux lab in the Fall 2021. Upon graduating - she wants to pursue research in industry.
In her free time, Shannon enjoys traveling, reading, listening to music and sharing Spotify playlists. She doesn't have any pets but absolutely loves dogs and has kept a succulent alive successfully.

Samantha is originally from Dallas, Georgia. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology (Microbiology Track) from Kennesaw State University in Summer 2018. She entered the Master of Science in Integrative Biology program at Kennesaw State University that fall. Her research during her undergraduate career and master’s program was focused on bacteriophage virology. She successfully defended her master’s thesis titled “Isolation and Characterization of Bacteriophages Infecting Enterobacter cloacae to Reduce Bloater Defect in Cucumber Fermentations” in July 2020. She moved to Morgantown in August 2020 to begin her PhD at West Virginia University. While pursuing her master’s, she became the founder and president of the MSIB Club at Kennesaw State University, which also became part of the STEM Coalition at KSU. She is actively involved in multiple student organizations at WVU. She joined the Robichaux lab in January 2022.

Samantha has a dog named Marcus and a cat named Akasha. When she has free time, she enjoys hiking with Marcus, reading, and horror movies.

Samantha Thompson

Graduate Research Assistant, Ph.D. Candidate

Sophie Crowder

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Sophie is originally from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and is a Biochemistry major at West Virginia University. She is participating in research in the Robichaux lab as part of the Research Apprenticeship Program. She is expected to graduate in May of 2024. After completion of her undergraduate degree, she hopes to go to medical school to become a Pathologist. In her free time, Sophie enjoys hanging out with her friends and watching sports, mainly the Washington Nationals. She also enjoys watch Marvel movies and DC TV shows. She does not have any pets with her in Morgantown, but takes care of multiple house plants.

Lauren Sexton

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lauren is from Williamstown, West Virginia and is majoring in Biology and minoring in Violin Performance and Psychology at West Virginia University. She expects to graduate in May of 2024 and hopes to eventually attend medical school. Lauren is participating in research in the Robichaux Lab through the Research Apprenticeship Program. When she has spare time, Lauren enjoys playing and listening to a variety of music, with her favorite band being the Beatles. She also loves going to WVU sporting events to cheer on the Mountaineers and reading mystery novels.

Allison Fields

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Allison is originally from Ripley, WV. She is an Exercise Physiology (Health Professions track) major with a minor in biology. After many shadowing hours, she fell in love with the field of optometry. She believes vision is one of the most precious gifts we are fortunate to experience in this life. She plans on attending optometry school in 2024, hoping to come back to West Virginia eventually to own her own practice. In the spare time she has between classes, work, and research, she loves watching romance movies and catching up on come of her favorite YouTube channels.

Hamza Abdul-Karim

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Hamza is a freshman here at West Virginia University and majors in Biochemistry. He was born in Maryland and has always held a love for all things science. He plans to go to medical school after graduation and pursue a career in medicine. During his free time he enjoys being active and spending time with friends.