Mandy Westland is an IGP graduate student in the Microbe-Host Interaction (MHI) program. She is originally from Houston, Texas and is a huge Texans and Astros fan. She completed her B.S. in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics at Oklahoma State University, and is currently doing her thesis work in Tim Cover’s lab, looking at the antagonistic relationship between VacA and CagA (two secreted Helicobacter pylori virulence factors) and how VacA manipulates the cellular environment of host cells. In her free time, Mandy loves reading historical fiction, exploring Nashville’s breweries, and cuddling with her three-legged dog, Bregman.