The Ivanovic lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of viral cell entry and progeny particle assembly. We combine molecular virology, in vitro reconstitution, biophysics, and quantitative cell biology to answer difficult-to-tackle mechanistic questions in virology and build upon those discoveries to ultimately enable prediction and prevention of undesirable viral adaptation. Our work spans diverse viral pathogens and/or their model systems, such as influenza virus, Ebola virus, coronavirus, reovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and measles virus.

Single Virion Biology and Biophysics Unit, 2024. Back Row (left to right): Antonio Santos del Peral, Postdoctoral Fellow; Steven Planitzer, Predoctoral IRTA Fellow; Tongyu (Tony) Liu, Postdoctoral Fellow; Tijana Ivanovic, Senior Investigator; Nick Berg, Predoctoral IRTA Fellow; Ed Partlow, Postdoctoral Fellow. Front Row (left to right): Ava Altenberg, Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow; Callie Donahue, Postdoctoral Fellow; Balindile Motsa, Postdoctoral Fellow; Anna Jaeggi-Wong, Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow
Tijana Ivanovic, Ph.D.
Tenure-Track Investigator, NIH Distinguished Scholar
Chief, Single Virion Biology and Biophysics Unit
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Postdoctoral Fellowship, 2015, Harvard University
Ph.D., Virology, 2008, Harvard University
B.S., Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, 1999, University of California, Los Angeles

Ava Lorraine Altenbern, B.A.
Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
B.A., Biochemistry and Art History, 2023, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Nick Berg, M.S.
Predoctoral IRTA Fellow, Doctoral Candidate: Brandeis University
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
M.S., Molecular and Cell Biology, 2022, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
B.S., Biology and Chemistry, 2021, Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Callie J. Donahue, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., 2024, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA
B.S., 2018, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY

Anna Jaeggi-Wong, B.S.
Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
B.S., Biochemistry and Biology, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Languages Spoken: German

Tongyu (Tony) Liu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., 2024, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
B.S., 2019, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
Languages Spoken: Mandarin Chinese

Balindile Bhekiwe Pearl Motsa, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., 2024, Purdue University
B.S., 2019, Michigan State University
Languages Spoken: Siswati

Ed A. Partlow III, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., 2022, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Steven D. Planitzer, B.S.
Predoctoral IRTA Fellow (Doctoral Candidate: Brandeis University)
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
B.S., Physics, 2019, Kent State University, Kent, OH
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Antonio Santos del Peral, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., 2024, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
M.S., Immunology, 2019, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
B.S., Biochemistry, 2018, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
Languages Spoken: Spanish
