My name is Dana May, I joined the Ewald lab in the spring of 2022 as a Neuroscience Graduate Program student. Prior to joining the University of Virginia, I received my Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Neuroscience from Temple University and my bachelor’s degree in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University. My primary research interests revolve around parasitic infections of the CNS, specifically how parasites gain entry into and infect the brain as well as their interactions with glial cells and neurons. My research focus in the Ewald lab will be centered around how the parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, interacts with the blood brain barrier to enter the brain. I will be examining this process using a variety of parasitic genetics and imaging techniques.
Outside of the lab, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends and pets, Ziggy (guinea pig) and Irie (cat). As a proud Jamaican American, I especially love to cook Jamaican food while listening to reggae music; I enjoy sharing reggae music and my dishes and recipes on my cooking and music blog - cookwithmay.com. With all the cooking I do, I have to make sure I stay healthy and in shape, so I find great joy in working out at the gym or going for long walks around town. Lastly, my ultimate pastime is to sit in my favorite chair, light some candles and then get lost in a good book or engulfed in a great show or movie.