Ann Carias

Experienced Research Associate Professor with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused in Virology and Immunology from Northwestern University, with a focus on women’s health, mucosal biology/immunology, hormonal environments, and viral transmission, particularly HIV. My research bridges tissue-level immunology, imaging, and applied research, using human explant and in vivo models to understand transmission and infection risk in real-world biological systems.

I specialize in turning complex biology into clear, actionable insights. Whether through mechanistic studies, antibody tracking, or scientific communication, I aim to make data meaningful and useful across disciplines.

I thrive in collaborative environments that value innovation, clarity and rigor, especially where biological science meets strategy.

I bring over 20 years of experience across academic research and global health, with a focus on HIV transmission, monoclonal antibody therapies, and mucosal immunology. My work has combined wet-lab science with international field collaborations, including studies in Kenya and South Africa. I’ve led NIH- and USAID-funded projects, managed non-human primate studies, and overseen teams spanning technicians to postdocs. Much of my research centers on antibody distribution and localization using imaging and tissue-based models. I’ve also worked on clinical trial support, lab infrastructure, and scientific capacity-building in low-resource settings. Throughout, I’ve kept one foot in the lab and one in the broader application of science to public health.

PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology from Northwestern University, with research centered on mucosal HIV transmission and immunological mechanisms of viral entry. Supplemented by a Master’s-level education in Medical Entomology from the University of Florida, adding depth in vector biology and infectious disease ecology. Undergraduate training includes degrees in Biology (Microbiology concentration), Chemistry (Biochemistry concentration), English and Philosophy, reflecting both technical breadth and analytical grounding.