{"id":134,"date":"2017-11-07T19:46:18","date_gmt":"2017-11-08T00:46:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/?page_id=134"},"modified":"2025-12-09T16:54:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T21:54:46","slug":"cover-lab-fun","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/cover-lab-fun\/","title":{"rendered":"Lab Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!<\/strong>\u00a0 Holiday Party and 5th Annual Cover Lab Cookie Decorating <\/strong>(December 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Celebrating Gabrielle, our newest PhD candidate, at Pancake Pantry!!! (November 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Happy Halloween! Can you spot the lab’s PI in this picture? (October 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Gabrielle, our newest PhD candidate!!! We are so proud of you! (October 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Happy birthday to one of our MVPs, Dr. Mark McClain! (featuring a delicious 3-tiered carrot cake made by Lily)<\/strong>\u00a0(October 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We started off our morning with delicious pancakes to celebrate Georgia’s F31, Mark’s R21, and Gabrielle’s GRFP honorable mention! (July 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Gabrielle traveled to Los Angeles, California to present her work on the effect of CagA on gastric metabolites at the ASM Microbe Conference! (June 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Goodbyes are hard, especially after 7 years – but we know you will go on to great things in Colorado, Mandy! (May 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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We will miss you so much Kaeli! Best of luck in Salt Lake City – you’re going to be an outstanding clinical microbiologist. (May 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Celebrating Drs. Bryant and Westland at the 2025 Commencement Ceremony. We could not be more proud of both of you! (May 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Welcome to the lab, Lily! We are so excited to have you! (April 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Dr. Kaeli Bryant, our newest PhD! We are so impressed by your dedication and resolve! (February 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Chiamaka traveled to Nancy, France to present her work on the Cag Type IV Secretion System at the International Conference on Type IV Secretion Systems! (February 2025)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Happy Holidays – 4th Annual Cover Lab Cookie Decorating and PMI Holiday Party Trivia Champs (December 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a0 Introducing Dr. Mandy Westland, PhD!! From summer student to RA to grad student to now Dr. – we are so proud of you!! (November 2o24)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Congrats to our newest PhD Candidate, Georgia, for passing her qualifying exam! (September 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Saying goodbye to our dear Dr. Shuman – we will miss you!! (July 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20240726_121159_0_\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20240726_120854<\/p>\n

The Cover lab takes California to celebrate Sirena and Huan’s wedding! (June 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_3273\"\u00a0\"IMG_3264\"\"PXL_20240701_005115460\"<\/p>\n

Celebrating the graduation of Drs. Tran and Shuman – we couldn’t be more excited for you two! (May 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"1000004691\"\"20240510_135311\"\"20240510_135318\"<\/p>\n

Welcoming our newest graduate student, Gabrielle! We’re so happy to have you! (April 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"welcomegabrielle\"<\/p>\n

Congratulations Dr. Shuman! We are so proud of you! (February 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2813\" \"IMG_8708\"\"PXL_20240223_185620259\"\"IMG_20240223_143933\"<\/p>\n

Baby Shuman (our newest recruit) catching up with Tim on his recent discoveries!\u00a0(February 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"1000002290\" \"1000002288\"<\/p>\n

Surprise!! Happy birthday to our fearless leader, Tim!\u00a0(February 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_5956\" \"IMG_5949\"<\/p>\n

Thanks for rotating with us Gabrielle and Hallie!! – Taco Mama lunch (February 2024)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"1000002214\"<\/p>\n

MPT Retreat – Henry Horton State Park (November 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"MPT<\/p>\n

Congrats\u00a0Dr. Tran on\u00a0your open defense!! (November 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TranDefense\"TranDefense\"IMG_4430\"<\/p>\n

Congrats Jennie\u00a0for winning the 3MT competition!! (November 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Jennie<\/p>\n

Happy Halloween! – Can you spot the 8 Dr. McClains?\u00a0(October 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"F9zhjv1WIAAGv6Y\" \"F9zhbOeWgAAYEwm\"<\/p>\n

Congrats Chiamaka for passing your qualifying exam!! (September 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chiamaka<\/p>\n

Cover Lab at MEGAMicrobe – Gower Elementary\u00a0(September 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Cover \"making<\/p>\n

Congrats on your research talk award at the VIRAL Symposium, Chiamaka! (April 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Chiamaka_viral<\/p>\n

Cover Lab at the annual VI4 Symposium (April 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Jennie_VI4\"Sirena_VI4\"Kaeli_VI4\"Chiamaka_VI4<\/p>\n

Thanks for rotating with us Madeline! (Jan 2023)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"rotation<\/p>\n

Lab Holiday Party (Dec. 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0979\" \"IMG_0978\" \"IMG_0986\"<\/p>\n

Congrats\u00a0on your VI4 mini-sabbatical award, Kaeli and Sirena! \u00a0–\u00a0University of Michigan<\/strong>\u00a0(October 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Kaeli-Sirena_UMich \"Kaeli-Sirena-Arwen\" \"Kaeli<\/p>\n

Congrats to our new Ph.D. Candidate, Kaeli! –\u00a0Ruby Sunshine Breakfast\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0(October 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0836\"<\/p>\n

MegaMicrobe!\u00a0(September 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"PXL_20220917_173522785\" \"IMG_2615\"<\/p>\n

Bridal Shower for Kaeli & Mandy!\u00a0(August 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0334\"<\/p>\n

Georgia’s Last Day as an RA Celebration\u00a0(August 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lab Olympics Happy Hour (July 2022) – Bronze Metal<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_20220708_174949358_HDR\"<\/p>\n

ASM Microbe Conference, Washington D.C. (June 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image \"Image\"ASM_GC\" \"imagejpeg_0\" \"IMG_1701\" \"IMG_9892\" \"media-1655135699781-Jun_13_2022_11_18_AM\" \"PXL_20220609_004141707\" \"PXL_20220609_132920579\"<\/p>\n

It’s boba time! (April 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

Dragon Park Lunch – Welcome to our lab Sergio & Chiamaka! (April 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image\"Image<\/strong><\/p>\n

Georgia will be pursuing her PhD at Vanderbilt this fall!\u00a0 (April 2022)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Congrats Dr. Harvey on your defense!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>(December\u00a02021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Conventional_LorenasDefense_12102021\"\"Goofy_LorenasDefense_12102021\"<\/p>\n

Lab cookie-making party! (December 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image\"Image\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jennie doing an in-person presentation at VUMChealth Translational Research Forum (Nov. 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"FDdSCBkVkAIlPlr\"<\/p>\n

Welcome to the family Kona! (October 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

\u00a0Congrats on your new job Neha! -We are going to miss you!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>(September 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"NehasGoodbyeParty09132021\"<\/p>\n

Congrats to our new Ph.D. Candidate, Mandy! –\u00a0Ruby Sunshine Breakfast\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 <\/strong>\u00a0(September 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4563\"<\/p>\n

Congrats to our new Ph.D. Candidate, Sirena! –\u00a0<\/strong>Pancake Pantry Breakfast (August 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sirena's<\/p>\n

Dragon Park Lunch – Welcome to our lab Kaeli! (May 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"dragon<\/p>\n

Lab hiking trip!\u00a0<\/strong>(Jan 2021)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"HikingTrip_2021\"<\/p>\n

Dr. Lin, what an unconventional way to celebrate on passing your open defense via virtual!\u00a0<\/strong>(Nov 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/p>\n

Dr. Lin, Congratulations on passing your closed defense!\u00a0<\/strong>(Oct 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sai<\/p>\n

What an unprecedented time to have a farewell party for Dr. Caston!\u00a0 <\/strong>We wish you success on your new chapter of life.\u00a0<\/strong>(May 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Zoom<\/p>\n

A big welcome to Mandy and Sirena joining our lab! (May 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mandy<\/p>\n

It’s with much pride that we present to you Dr. Rhonda Caston!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Open Defense (March 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TheCoverLab2020-cropped\"<\/p>\n

Dr. Rhonda Caston, Congratulations on passing your closed defense!\u00a0<\/strong>(Feb 2020)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Rhonda<\/p>\n

Door decoration contest\u00a0 (Dec\u00a02019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Gingerbread<\/p>\n

I.D. Holiday lunch\u00a0 (Dec\u00a02019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IDHolidaylunch_12182019\"<\/p>\n

Come and check out our awesome Gingerbread House at the lab door (credits to Lorena and Jennie)! \u00a0(Dec\u00a02019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Holiday<\/p>\n

Lorena presenting her interesting research at Tennessee-Kentucky ASM Conference! (Nov 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Lorena_Conference_Nov2019\"<\/p>\n

We had a blast at ASM Microbe\u00a0presenting our research and catching up with old colleagues! (June 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"ASM<\/p>\n

Welcoming our Newest Lab Members, Jeff and Georgia! (June 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"WelcomeLunchJeffandGeorgia\"<\/p>\n

Congrats Dr. Nora on your Defense!! (Apr 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

We are so excited and wish you the best with all of your future endeavors!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"NoraDefense2\"<\/p>\n

Congrats to Neha and Sai along with their awesome team members winning the best business module presentation (Apr 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"TPSR<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Presenting our research at the VI4 Symposium (Apr 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"VI4_2019\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anne’s farewell party! Wish you the best on your next journey \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/strong>(Feb 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Picture1\"<\/p>\n

\"coverLab1<\/p>\n

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Miranda giving a fantastic piano recital at <\/strong>Blair School of Music\u00a0<\/strong>(Feb 2019)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20190219_135057\"<\/p>\n

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Happy Holidays! Congrats to the Cover Lab (Lorena’s fine painting) for winning 1st place at ID Inaugural Decorating Contest.\u00a0 \u00a0(December 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"HappyHolidays2018\"<\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Lab lunch to celebrate the end of 2nd rotation and\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 end of the year!\u00a0(Dec 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"GroupPic-2018Endofcelebration\"<\/p>\n

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Sai presenting a poster at Cancer Biology Retreat\u00a0<\/strong>(Nov 16 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20181116_155503\"<\/p>\n

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Lunch to celebrate the end of first rotation! (Oct 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20181024_115228\"<\/p>\n

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Miranda presenting a poster at Undergraduate Research Symposium (September 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20180927_172417\"<\/p>\n

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Graduate student poster session (August 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IGPRecruitment2018\"<\/p>\n

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We were so lucky to have an amazing group of summer students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>(August 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"20180803_124006\"<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Summer students – Mandy, Nora, and Miranda, presenting their summer projects! Great job!\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>(August 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Capture\"<\/p>\n

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Lab lunch to welcome our new summer students Miranda, Nora, and Mandy\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>(June 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"LabLunch2\"<\/p>\n

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ASM Microbe Conference in Atlanta, GA (June 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"ASMMicrobeLabPicturesCombo\"<\/p>\n

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Annual Vanderbilt Career Symposium\u00a0 (June 2018)<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Capture\"<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Couldn’t ask for more: a<\/strong>n afternoon of fresh air and good food at the Vanderbilt <\/b>University<\/b><\/span>\u00a0Medical Center Employee Picnic\u00a0\u00a0(May 2018)<\/b><\/p>\n

\"sdr\"<\/p>\n

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Cover lab members at Digestive Disease Research Center (DDRC) Retreat (April 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congratulations to Nora and Rhonda for winning first and second place Poster Presentation awards!<\/p>\n

\"Picture1\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Cover lab members at Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation (VI4) Symposium (April 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Capture\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Happy Pi(e) Day! Thanks to Nora for organizing this event.\u00a0<\/strong>(March 14, 2018)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pi(E)Day\"<\/p>\n

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Big congrats to Amber who has successfully defended and officially becomes Dr. Amber.\u00a0 (Jan, 2018)<\/strong>\"amber-1\"<\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Amber (Oops, I should say Dr. Amber) who has passed her closed defense! (Dec, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Capture\"<\/p>\n

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Enjoying feast at PMI Holiday party!! \ud83d\ude42 (Dec, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Capture\"<\/p>\n

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Celebratory qual passage dinner at Amber’s apartment (Nov, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"amber\"<\/p>\n

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Had a great day at LST|CON\u00a0learning\u00a0about the life science industry in TN (Nov, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"LorenaLSTCON\" \"SaiLSTCon\"<\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Sai & Lorena for passing your Qualifying Exams!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong>(Nov, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_2696<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Rhonda had a wonderful time recruiting for Vandy at ABRCMS! (Nov, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"rhoda\"<\/p>\n

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Rhonda enjoying lobsters at Cold Spring Harbor with alum Carrie!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0(Sep, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"coldspring\"<\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Dr. Frick-Cheng! You’ll be missed dearly! (May, 2017)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"1+2\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

———————————————————————————————————-<\/p>\n

Infection and Immunology symposium, here we come! (Apr, 2017)\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"conference\"<\/p>\n

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We love watching the seasons change on our beautiful campus! (2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"nature\"<\/p>\n

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Rhonda and Amber at ASM Microbe 2016! (Jul, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"asm<\/p>\n

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Congratulations to Dr. Brad Voss! (May, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"brad\"<\/p>\n

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On the way to celebrate Brad’s defense! (May, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"selfie\"<\/p>\n

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Cover Lab at poster sessions at Vanderbilt Symposium! (Apr, 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"uuu\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!\u00a0 Holiday Party and 5th Annual Cover Lab Cookie Decorating (December 2025)   Celebrating Gabrielle, our newest PhD candidate, at Pancake Pantry!!! (November 2025) Happy Halloween! Can you spot the lab’s PI in … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7191,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-134","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134"}],"version-history":[{"count":132,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1258,"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/134\/revisions\/1258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/my.vanderbilt.edu\/coverlab\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}