Lab Members
Justin R. Kaspar
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator
Justin grew up in Blessing, Texas. Justin is supported by his two amazing parents, Steven and Susan Kaspar, and a younger sister Lani who is a practicing veterinarian in Needville, Texas.
Justin graduated from Texas A&M University (Class of 2011) with a BS in Microbiology before attending the University of Florida College of Medicine Graduate Program in Biomedical Sciences to obtain a PhD (graduated in August 2016).
With a love for College Football, Justin continued his football powerhouse tour around the country by accepting an assistant professor position at Ohio State in the spring of 2020.
On other weekends during the year, Justin loves to BBQ pretending he is a pitmaster, collecting sports cards and enjoys visiting state/national parks or other historical locations. Justin is married to his beautiful wife Feliciana, and together they raise three fur children consisting of Ollie (toy Australian Shepard), Bella and Bandit (two adopted cats).
Dan Peters
Research Technician / Lab Manager
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Career goal: Medical School
Interest(s): Basketball, traveling, scuba diving, music
Project/Research question: Evaluating Streptococcus mutans cocultures with commensal streptococci
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: I will always remember the dentist-themed Play-Doh gift during our white elephant holiday gift exchange
Kevin Dong
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Biology
Hometown: Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Dentistry, Fitness, Outdoor activities
Project/Research question: Growth environment impacts interspecies interactions between oral streptococci
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: Lab gathering at Shake No. Eight to nourish our oral microbiome
Emily Williams
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Powell, Ohio
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Snowboarding, reading mystery books, and cooking with roommates
Project/Research question: Growth environment impacts interspecies interactions between oral streptococci
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: When I first started in the lab, there was a severe shortage of pipet tips. Naturally, I happened to knock over and spill and entire container of them. My roommate, who also worked in the lab, accidentally exposed my fault to Dr. Kaspar and we all had a good laugh
Robbie Bettinger
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Microbiology
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ohio
Career goal: General dentist with a focus on cosmetic dentistry
Interest(s): Golf, skiing, Ohio State athletics
Project/Research question: Identification of genes impacting the fitness of Streptococcus gordonii during interspecies interactions
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: Dr. Kaspar asking us to calculate concentrations of reagents needed for a master mix and trying to recall basic chemistry formulas to set up an experiment
Allen Choi
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Biomedical Science
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Health/Service, World History, Soccer, Alto Saxophone/Popular Music
Project/Research question: Environmental Impact of Human Saliva in Media on Health- And Disease-related Oral Streptococci Culture Growth
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: The subdued shock I had when realizing I needed to pipette around 100 wells on a honeyscreen plate to run my first Bioscreen growth curve. Though I won't say it isn't a lot of precise work, now that I have more experience recording growth curves that initial response remains as an amusing and fond memory for me.
_edited.jpg)
Delaney Hancock
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Health Sciences
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Career goal: Orthodontist
Interest(s): Cooking, spending time with friends and family, taking my dog on walks
Project/Research question: Role of phenotypic variables in Streptococcus mutans isolate virulence potential
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: One of my favorite memories was finally getting to meet everyone in the lab. Having started my research over the summer months, it was very exciting to meet the other lab members once everyone returned to campus.
Madisen Bangs
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Mason, Ohio
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Skiing, boating, painting, cooking, and traveling
Project/Research question: Streptococcus mutans Isolates Exhibit Diverse Phenotypes Dependent on Commensal Competitor
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: The gift exchange at the first annual Kaspar Lab holiday party and celebrating the first publication!
Isabella Williams
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Biology
Hometown: North Hampton, New Hampshire
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Skiing, running, and spending time back home in New Hampshire
Project/Research question: Characterization of competitive factors amongst oral streptococci
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: The lab holiday party where I got to meet everyone else in the lab for the first time!
Lindsey Pia
Undergraduate Researcher
Major: Microbiology
Hometown: Wethersfield, Connecticut
Career goal: Dentist
Interest(s): Lifting, cooking, traveling and music
Project/Research question: Isolation of oral bacterial isolates from human saliva
Something I'll always remember about the Kaspar Lab: Getting to meet everyone in the lab at Dr Kaspar's holiday party!
