Adams Research Group

The Adams Research Group uses molecular and cellular techniques to manipulate spirochetes, sequence bacterial transcriptomes, characterize cellular processes, map regulatory networks, and study spirochetes during infection.

Photo of Dr. Philip Adams Research Group

Biology of Spirochetes Unit, 2024. Left to right: Julia Silberman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Philip Adams, Stadtman Investigator; Erika Smith, Postdoctoral Fellow; Max Freedman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow.

Credit: NIAID

Philip P. Adams, Ph.D.

Chief, Biology of Spirochetes Unit
Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigator
NIH Distinguished Scholar

Contact: philip.adams@nih.gov

Education:

Ph.D., 2017, Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, FL
B.S., 2012, Biology, Summa Cum Laude, West Virginia Wesleyan College, WV

Dr. Philip Adams earned his undergraduate degree in biology at West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2012, where he first studied B. burgdorferi cell biology. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of Central Florida, College of Medicine, Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis in 2017. His dissertation work identified and characterized murine infection-relevant RNAs in...

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Erika Smith, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: erika.smith2@nih.gov

Education:

Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
B.A., Colby College

Dr. Erika Smith earned her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Colby College in 2018, where she studied carotenoid biosynthesis in the archaeon Haloferax volcanii. In 2024, she earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry, cellular, and molecular biology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as a member of Dr. Erin Goley’s laboratory. Her thesis work involved characterizing mechanisms of adaptation to...

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Max Freedman, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Contact: robert.freedman2@nih.gov

Education:

B.S., Vassar College

Max Freedman graduated from Vassar College in 2024 with a B.A. in biology and science & technology in society (STS). In his undergraduate research, Max characterized the role of eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3) in translation initiation. Max joined BOSU in July 2024 to investigate regulatory RNAs in spirochetes.

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Julia Silberman, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Contact: julia.silberman@nih.gov

Education:

B.S., Tufts University

Julia Silberman graduated from Tufts University in 2023 with a B.S. in biochemistry. In her undergraduate research, Julia examined inhibition of intein-splicing as a prospective antimicrobial strategy. Julia joined BOSU in June 2023 to investigate the cell biology of spirochetes.

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Photo of Dr. Philip Adams Research Group Members in Summer 2024.

Adams Lab: Group on Gene Regulation in Bacterial Pathogens, NICHD, Summer 2024. Left to right: Julia Silberman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Haden Fincham, Summer Intern; Philip Adams, NIH Independent Research Scholar; Ryan Fishman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Max Freedman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow.

Credit: NICHD
Photo of Dr. Philip Adams Research Group Members in Summer 2023

Hiking at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Adams Lab: Group on Gene Regulation in Bacterial Pathogens, NICHD, Summer 2023. Left to right: Julia Silberman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Daniel Soliman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Philip Adams, NIH Independent Research Scholar; Ryan Fishman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow.

Credit: NICHD
Photo of Dr. Philip Adams Research Group Members in Summer 2022.

Hiking at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland. Adams Lab: Group on Gene Regulation in Bacterial Pathogens, NICHD, Summer 2022. Top row, left to right: Emily Petroni, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Philip Adams, NIH Independent Research Scholar; Maxime Zamba-Campero, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Daniel Tetreault, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; bottom row: Daniel Soliman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow.

Credit: NICHD
Photo of Dr. Philip Adams Research Group Members in Summer 2021.

Adams Lab: Group on Gene Regulation in Bacterial Pathogens, NICHD, Summer 2021. Left to right: Daniel Tetreault, Postbaccalaureate Fellow; Philip Adams, NIH Independent Research Scholar; Maxime Zamba-Campero, Postbaccalaureate Fellow.

Credit: NICHD

Former Research Group Members

  • Ryan Fishman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow 2023-2024, Current Position: Medical Student, Duke University, School of Medicine
  • Daniel Soliman, Postbaccalaureate Fellow 2022-2023, Current Position: Medical Student, Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine
  • Emily Petroni, Postbaccalaureate Fellow 2021-2023, Current Position: Medical Student, Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine
  • Daniel Tetreault, Postbaccalaureate Fellow 2020-2022, Current Position: PhD Student, Cornell University, Microbiology
  • Maxime Zamba-Campero, Postbaccalaureate Fellow 2019-2021, Current Position: PhD Student, University of Pennsylvania, Cell and Molecular Biology

Former Summer Interns

  • Haden Fincham, Summer 2024, Current Position: Undergraduate Student, West Virginia Wesleyan College
  • Raghib Nihal, Summer 2022, Current Position: Medical Student, University of Virginia, School of Medicine
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