Our Team

Michael G. Constantinides, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Immunology & Microbiology

Mike completed his postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Dr. Yasmine Belkaid, where he studied how the microbiome influences mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. He determined that early-life microbial exposure imprints the abundance of tissue-resident MAIT cells and subsequent interactions with the microbiota modulate their ability to promote tissue repair. For his Ph.D. research, Mike studied the development of innate lymphocytes in the laboratory of Dr. Albert Bendelac. Together with his colleagues, Mike established that PLZF orchestrates the effector program of natural killer T cells and extended this discovery to innate lymphoid cells (ILCs). In doing so, he identified a committed ILC precursor and determined the lineage relationships between innate lymphocytes. Mike enjoys participating in scientific outreach and exploring the outdoors with his dogs, Drs. Loumi and Chloe (see profile below).

Education
B.A. – Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Ph.D. – University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Fellowship – National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD

Select Awards
Scripps Research Outstanding Mentor Award – 2025
AAI Pfizer-Showell Award – 2024
NIGMS Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (R35) – 2023
Donald E. & Delia B. Baxter Foundation Faculty Scholar – 2021
NIAID Career Transition Award (K22) – 2021
AAI-Thermo Fisher Trainee Achievement Award – 2017
NIH Fellows Award for Research Excellence – 2017
AAI Lefrançois-BioLegend Memorial Award – 2016
CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship – 2015

Google Scholar – LinkedIn – ORCID

Dominic Haas

PhD candidate, joined 2022

Dominic completed his Bachelor of Health Sciences with a Biomedical Sciences specialization at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON, Canada. Dominic became interested in inflammatory diseases after taking classes in anatomy and pathophysiology; this interest urged him to study these diseases in a wet lab environment. His undergraduate thesis with Dr. Caminero focused on the role of microbial tryptophan metabolism in aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation and inflammatory bowel disease. Dominic is excited to continue studying the interplay of the microbiota and immune cells in the Constantinides Lab.

Education
B.H.Sc. – McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

Select Awards
SMI Young Investigator Travel Award – 2026
Travel award, Biology of Acinetobacter XIV – 2025
NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship, Doctoral – 2025
Poster award, La Jolla Immunology Conference – 2024
Dr. Chi-Huey Wong Endowed Fellowship – 2022
Scripps Research Dean’s Award – 2022
NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award – 2022
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology Summer Student Scholarship – 2021
Bachelor of Health Science Summer Research Scholarship – 2021

Loumi, M.D. Ph.D. & Chloe, M.D. Ph.D.

MASCOTS

Following their graduation from Good Dog University summa cum laude, Loumi (left) and Chloe (right) completed the M.D. Ph.D. program at the Institute for Advanced Dog Studies, where they established that meat does in fact taste better than vegetables. They subsequently completed their surgical residencies at Squirrel Chase Canine Center, where they perfected their technique on numerous dog toys. They’re currently studying how consuming your food affects their microbiomes.

Education
B.A. – Good Dog University
M.D. Ph.D. – Institute for Advanced Dog Studies
Residency – Squirrel Chase Canine Center

Alumni

Open Positions