Group Members

Jump to Staff, Undergraduate Researchers , Post Doctoral Alumni.

Staff

Dr. Daniel Matute

Principal Investigator; Professor
dmatute@email.unc.edu

Dr. Daniel Matute is head of the Matute Lab and a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has dedicated his career to understanding the genetic origins of speciation and genetic diversity. He recieved his BSc in Microbiology and Biology from Los Andes University in Bogota, Colombia. He continued his education under Dr. Jerry Coyne at the University of Chicago, where he earned his PhD in Evolutionary Biology pursuing the factors that promoted and discouraged speciation in a natural hybrid zone of Drosophila. After recieving his PhD, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Dr. Molly Przeworski at the University of Chicago, where he studied the genetic basis of adaptation in natural populations. He joined the faculty at UNC-Chapel Hill in 2014, where his lab continues to produce high impact research and researchers.

Dr. Victoria Sepulveda

Senior Research Associate
vsepulve@email.unc.edu

Vicky studies how virulence strategies have evolved in dimorphic fungal pathogens, enabling strains to become pathogenic, cause diverse disease manifestations and induce a wide range of host immune responses. She received her BSc in Microbiology from Los Andes University in Bogota, Colombia. She earned her PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis from Washington University in St. Louis, where she worked in the lab of Bill Goldman. She continued her Postdoctoral training in Microbiology and Immunology in the Goldman lab at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Dr. Patrick Kelly

Postdoctoral Researcher
patk@email.unc.edu

short bio describing education, research interests, and other relevant information about the member and their role in the lab.

McKenna Sutherland

Lab Manager, Drosophila
mjsuth01@email.unc.edu

McKenna is the manager of the fly portion of the lab whose primary responsibility is maintaining the fly stocks and fly DNA extractions. She is also responsible for training the undergraduate research assistants and assisting them with their projects. She received her B.S. in Psychology with minors in Public Policy and Health & Society from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2024 and is furthering her education through a Master of Public Policy program at the University of Chicago starting in the fall of 2026. In her free time, McKenna enjoys reading, traveling, and hanging out with her pet cat Frankie!

Jingbaoyi (Janet) Li

Lab Manager, Fungal Pathogens
jinyi07@email.unc.edu

I joined the Matute Lab as an undergraduate during my junior year and have been part of the lab ever since, continuing on as a research technician and lab manager. I first began working with Drosophila before shifting my focus to the dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma under the guidance of Dr. Victoria Sepúlveda during the summer after my junior year. Through my time in the lab, I have developed a strong interest in using molecular biology tools to understand the genetic mechanisms of pathogenicity and pathogenesis. In Fall 2026, I will be pursuing begin my Ph.D. at the University of Georgia, where I will continue exploring the molecular mechanisms that shape pathogen biology.

Oliver Kompathoum

Computational Biologist
okompath@email.unc.edu

Oliver is a computational biologist and bioinformatician whose primary focus in the lab is improving genomic resources for fungal pathogens. He is also responsible for managing the lab's data infrastructure and providing support for data transfers between collaborators. He recieved his BSc in Biology and Minor in Computer Science from Wake Forest University in 2024, and is looking to further his education through a PhD position at Virginia Tech in the fall of 2026. In his free time, Oliver enjoys hiking, cooking, and making music.