Name: Laura Knoll
Hometown: Blaine, MN
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Research Overview
Dr. Knoll’s research centers on studying the host/pathogen interactions of the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. T. gondii is well known for causing encephalitis in immunocompromised patients and is a member of the coccidian family of parasites that include Plasmodium (causative agent of malaria) and Cryptosporidium (causative agent of diarrhea).
What inspired you to select your field of study?
Parasites have such interesting life cycles.
What is one piece of advice you would give to students?
Don’t be afraid to try new things. Every new experience just gives you confidence for your future experiments. You never know what biology is going to throw at you.
When you’re not in the lab, how do you spend your time?
Playing Dungeons and Dragons with my sons.
If you didn’t become a scientist, what career would you have pursued?
I have no idea, probably a farmer? Maybe a high school teacher? I don’t know.
What is the best meal you’ve ever had?
I have had a lot of great food. I have had great Mofongo in Puerto Rico, I guess that is my favorite.
You have to sing karaoke, what song do you pick?
They Might be Giants “Science is Real”
Have you ever completed anything on your “bucket list”? If so, what was it?
I would like to hike in every National Park. So far I have hiked about half.
What is the last TV show that you binge-watched?
Deep Space Nine