Dr. Fiester joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University in 2024. In addition to his Research Professorship at Furman University, he maintains Clinical Associate Professorships at Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Lee Health, Florida State University College of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency Program at Lee Health, School of Health Science Research at Clemson University and Department of Pathology at Prisma Health while also serving and as a Research Investigator for the William Jennings Bryan Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center Dorn Research Institute. He has previously held positions as an Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina, a visiting faculty member at Miami University and the BSL-3 Facility Coordinator at Kent State University.  Dr. Fiester's research interests primarily focus on the elucidation of virulence mechanisms in ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species) pathogens and the development of novel therapeutics to treat them as well as other clinically relevant projects often in collaboration with the aforementioned institutions. 

Eduarda Kffuri Gonçalves is a master’s student in biology at Florida Gulf Coast University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Science in biology in Spring 2024. She is currently conducting research with Dr. Fiester where her work primarily focuses upon the elucidation of virulence mechanisms in and novel treatment options for A. baumannii. Her academic interests focus on microbiology, host-pathogen interactions, and biomedical innovation. As an undergraduate, Eduarda worked as a medical assistant in a pain management clinic, where she developed hands-on experience in clinical procedures and patient interaction. She also shadowed a pediatric general surgeon, gaining meaningful insight into the healthcare field and surgical practice. Eduarda is passionate about making an impact through science and education. After completing her master’s degree, she plans to pursue a Ph.D. or a university teaching role to contribute to scientific advancement and help cultivate the next generation of biologists.

Luis A. Ramos graduated in 2025 with a major in biology and a concentration in pre-professional biology. Since the summer of 2024, he has been working with Dr. Fiester on the production of several academic papers in addition to laboratory research. Outside of academics, Luis serves as a medical scribe across four emergency departments within the Lee Health system, where he gains firsthand exposure to acute patient care and clinical decision-making. Committed to lifelong learning and the well-being of his community, Luis is passionate about advancing scientific understanding of disease prevention and management. Luis intends to pursue a Doctor of Medicine degree, with plans to complete a residency in Internal Medicine and sequentially specialize in Cardiology. 

James Noyes is a 2025 nursing graduate and post-baccalaureate student in pre-professional biology at Florida Gulf Coast University. Since January 2025, he has worked with Dr. Fiester on clinical research related to infectious disease diagnosis. He currently works as an emergency department registered nurse, caring for acutely ill patients, and has gained broad clinical exposure through rotations across surgical, neurological, orthopedic, and intensive care settings. James is interested in infectious disease diagnosis and clinical decision-making in emergency care settings. He plans to attend medical school and hopes to pursue a career that integrates patient care, research, and education.

Peter Brancato graduated in 2020 from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a B.A. in Linguistics with a Japanese emphasis. He is currently working as a medical assistant in a dermatology practice while completing prerequisite coursework for medical school, with the goal of pursuing a career in dermatology. Within the Fiester Laboratory, Peter is a member of the clinical case report team, which focuses on translating foundational laboratory findings into clinically meaningful insights. His work centers on literature synthesis, clinical reasoning, and manuscript development, with an emphasis on identifying emerging patterns in antimicrobial resistance and articulating the clinical relevance of individual patient cases within broader systemic trends. Peter’s professional interests lie in patient centered care and the intersection of clinical research and real world impact. He is particularly motivated by work that helps patients feel comfortable and confident in their own skin and hopes to integrate clinical practice with research throughout his future medical career.

Lily E. Jensen is a biology major with a concentration in microbiology. In her free time Lily enjoys figure skating. While at FGCU, Lily has worked at two different pharmaceutical/medical device companies. She has gained experience working in different ISO level cleanrooms/labs as well as operating different medical devices per FDA regulations. Following graduation from FGCU, Lily hopes to attend law school.

Megan C. Murray is a senior graduating this spring. She is currently majoring in biology with a microbiology concentration. Megan started working with Dr. Fiester in Spring 2025 and will be pursing a senior research project in Fall 2025. Megan plans to pursue a graduate degree following her spring graduation to engage in long term research and eventually a professorship. Megan is interested in researching disease-causing bacteria to better understand a medicinal defense against them.

Allison J. Seibert is a senior biology major at Florida Gulf Coast University. She is thrilled to be contributing to Dr. Fiester’s research lab and gaining valuable experience in the field. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a master's program in physician assistant studies. Currently, she works as a medical assistant, further strengthening her clinical background. Allison will be joining our lab in Fall of 2025.

Lyla M. Ribeiro is an undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University. She has clinical experience in dermatology and is broadly interested in biomedical research, particularly the development of innovative approaches to combat human disease. In addition to her research pursuits, Lyla serves as President of the Pre-Medical Club, Vice President of TriBeta (Biological Honors Society), and a mentor in the Early College Program. She intends to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of integrating research and clinical practice to advance healthcare.

Samuel L. McDuffie is a senior majoring in Biological Science with a pre-professional concentration at Florida Gulf Coast University. Samuel has a diverse range of clinical exposure through shadowing in general and vascular surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Beyond academics, he serves as Vice President of the Pre-Medical Club and Treasurer of the FGCU Red Cross Club, where he helps promote service and leadership on campus. Following graduation, Samuel intends to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician.

Dylan F. Luu is a senior majoring in biology with a concentration in pre-professional biology. He joined the Fiester Laboratory in the spring 2026 semester and will be graduating in Fall 2026. Dylan plans to work on a cell culture project testing novel antibiotics to determine their effectiveness in treating bacterial infection. He is highly interested in both medical and wildlife biology research and plans on pursuing a master’s or Ph.D. program in the future. Dylan is interested in medical research that develops novel treatments for diseases that affect both humans and animals. He is interested in ultimately pursuing a professorship and becoming an educator. Dylan is a senator in FGCU's student government, assists other professors with their research projects, and works as a teaching assistant.