Christian McDonald

This week marked a milestone in my PhD journey. Defending my dissertation was an incredible experience filled with engaging discussions and intense examination. The best part was sharing this defense with my incredible friends and family. Here’s to wrapping up this chapter!

Spent the weekend at my last 𝗠𝗰𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 Meeting. Reconnecting with other graduating fellows after we received our McKnight jackets was extra special! Grateful for this community and all the support they provided during this PhD journey. #McKnightFellows

@hovah76 Nope.

@PieterLValk Wait. We need the full bassoon story!

in college we had a christmas photoshoot. yes, we covered our cinderblock apartment in faux wood paneling. and yes, the tree skirt is a truck stop tiger “skin”.

Grateful to @PWB_Global for their work in providing resources to those most impacted by parasitic diseases. Going to be using this as a guide for the upcoming certification exams on parasitic infections! 🪱

October Print Version (page 4): issuu.com/miamihurricane…

The @MiamiHurricane recently published my piece from the @univmiami OpiniUM Op-Ed challenge. I discuss the pathogen at the center of my dissertation, 𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗩, and how it has faded from public memory yet still afflicts thousands worldwide. themiamihurricane.com/2025/04/21/a-s…

🦠

@KarenStrine3 @NIH This.

@NIH Didn’t Dr. Monarez get fired because she wouldn’t be loyal & follow changes to pediatric vaccine schedules?

Under the Biden administration, NIH intramural investigators were required to include DEI statements in their confidential BSC reviews — effectively loyalty oaths that encouraged ideologically driven science. Unlike most, Dr. Memoli courageously stood against these mandates, resisting institutional pressure and preserving both his integrity and the integrity of his work. These BSC loyalty oaths have now been eliminated. Under the leadership of Director Jay Bhattacharya, NIH will never impose such requirements. Instead, we are committed to fostering open scientific discourse and advancing gold-standard science rooted in rigor, transparency, and a shared mission to make America healthy again.

@FIU @FIUalumni Panthers, please continue to support and advocate for a Diverse, Equitable and Inclusive environment on campus, even if your University chooses to conform and align itself with the current administration!

Calling all @FIUAlumni! Drop your advice for incoming Panthers!🐾✨

Thanks to @ASBMB for this opportunity!

Exploring Teotihuacán & Museo de Antropología in Mexico City. #CDMX

Just a few shots from a recent trip to Lisboa, Portugal 🇵🇹

@ASMicrobiology @JVirology Hi! I missed todays introductory meeting. Was it recorded or will a summary be provided? Thanks!

Time’s running out to sign up for the free new Journal of Virology Seminar Series! 🚨 Learn about upcoming topics for future seminars, how to stay current on virology breakthroughs, challenges shaping the field and tips for publishing in @JVirology. asm.org/Webinars/Journ…

@JasonAChristian Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi is a must!

@marielkleer RNA queen! Can’t wait to read!

Easily my favourite discovery of my PhD was staining KSHV infected cells for the kaposin RNA, going to the microscope, turning it on, and seeing gigantic nuclear dots. KSHV uses the kaposin RNA to reorganize the cell nucleus for successful gene expression. Preprint below!

same 🙃

Edited cause I do love @krispykreme 😂

Exciting to hear one of @univmiami very own @giant_virus talking to @markowenmartin about his research on 𝗴𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 🦠

Congratulations, 𝗗𝗿. 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗿! Taking her Virology course alongside @bmoore_beth was pivotal in my decision to pursue graduate studies focusing on viruses. I still recall her lecture on translation during viral infections, which launched my interest in this topic! 🦠