Katie joined the Belyy Lab in spring of 2025 as a part of the Ohio State Biochemistry Program (OSBP). As a longtime “professional student,” she holds bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) and biochemistry (Kennesaw State University) as well as a master’s degree in chemical sciences (also KSU). Her master’s research focused on using NMR to elucidate the structure of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa protein Ivyp2 in order to compare it to a previously described pathogenic homolog, Ivyp1. Outside of the lab, she spends much of her free time training for and competing in Historical European Martial Arts events as a nationally ranked longsword fencer.