Scott Gordon, MD, PhD - Principal Investigator

Scott is the Principal Investigator and an Attending Physician in the Division of Neonatology at CHOP. He believes our innovations in the lab will help to improve outcomes for moms and babies.

Scott graduated from Haverford College and received his MD and PhD from Perelman School of Medicine. He completed his residency in General Pediatrics and fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at CHOP. During his PhD, Scott studied development of killer lymphocytes with Dr. Steve Reiner. He became fascinated with reproductive immunology during his postdoc with Dr. Ed Behrens.

When he’s not in the ICU or the lab, Scott is either on adventures with his family or cooking up a storm.

Adjoa Osei-Ntansah - Ph.D. Candidate, Immunology Graduate Group

Adjoa is a student in the Penn Immunology Graduate Group (IGG) completing her graduate thesis in the lab on IL-15-responsive macrophages. She is investigating crosstalk between innate and adaptive immune cells during acute and chronic viral infections for her thesis project.

Adjoa graduated from Howard University in May 2021 with a major in Biology and a double minor in Chemistry and Community Health. Her undergraduate research experiences included understanding how the microbiome influenced the course of fatty liver disease in the setting of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Adjoa is also passionate about tackling heath inequity through her work. Outside of lab, Adjoa loves traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Sonresa Molina-Vidales - Ph.D. Candidate, CAMB/MVP Graduate Group

Sonresa is a student in the Penn Microbiology, Virology, and Parasitology (MVP) program who is completing her graduate thesis in the lab on proinflammatory signals that dictate normal uterine vascular adaptations to pregnancy

Sonresa graduated from the University of Utah, with a major in Biology and an Emphasis in Microbiology. She studied everything from spider mites and maize genetics to evolution of viral RNA sensors.

Sonresa is excited about discovering how pro-inflammatory molecules play roles in normal pregnancy. She hopes to improve birth outcomes for women of color. Her passions also extend to giving back to the Latino community and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion in science.

In her free time, Sonresa loves listening to the Relatos de la Noche podcast (a ghost story podcast), cooking with her husband, thrift shopping, and dancing. She also loves exploring the outdoors, from visiting lakes and waterfalls to admiring the old architecture around the East Coast. 

Alexandra Lopez - Ph.D. Candidate, Immunology Graduate Group

Alexandra is a PhD candidate in the Immunology Graduate Group (IGG) at the University of Pennsylvania. She graduated from Texas A&M University in 2018 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Mathematics, where she worked on understanding the role of the immune system in development of hypertension and in of spinal cord injury.

In the summer of 2021, Alexandra joined the lab of Dr. Kellie Jurado at UPenn, where she investigated immune mechanisms governing pathogenesis of congenital Zika virus infection. Alexandra’s thesis in the Gordon lab is centered on understanding how pro-inflammatory crosstalk between the maternal immune system and fetal placental cells, or trophoblasts, drives placental development. 

Alexandra is deeply committed to leveraging her research endeavors not only to advance scientific knowledge but also to advocate for marginalized communities and address health disparities. Outside of the lab, Alexandra enjoys going to the gym, spending time with her friends and her dog Snoopy, and exploring Philadelphia.

Natalie Olivieri - Research Technician

Natalie is a Research Assistant in the lab since Summer 2021 studying the host response to congenital infection.

She graduated from Haverford College in May 2023, with a major in Biology and minors in Psychology and Health Studies. Natalie loves volunteering with children. She has worked with special needs students, supported kindergarteners with their reading and math, and volunteered with pediatric patients in the ICU.

In her free time, she enjoys running and watching her favorite TV show, Friends. She is also passionate about cooking and baking for her family and friends.

Maria Danial

Maria is currently an undergraduate at Haverford College and will graduate in May 2025 with a major in Biology and Health Studies minor. Her undergraduate research experience includes working with different lab animal models to study neurodegenerative diseases and the evolution and development of embryos. Maria joined the lab in Summer 2024, studying IL-15-responsive macrophages.

Maria is passionate about pediatrics and reproductive health studies. She is interested in studying different ways in which the immune system can promote women's health during pregnancy and fetal outcomes. She loves volunteering with children and working on projects that promote maternal and reproductive health awareness in underrepresented communities. 

In her free time, Maria enjoys reading, playing squash, and spending quality time with family & friends. She is also passionate about cooking and listening to podcasts.

Andrea-Soleil Paredes

Andrea is a fourth-year undergraduate student working in the lab for the summer under the UPenn summer undergraduate internship program (SUIP). She attends St. Mary’s University majoring in Biology with a double minor in chemistry and biomedical research. There, she works to characterize T-bet B cells and how their interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and chronic inflammation. This summer, Andrea will be working on how inflammatory molecules mediate uterine vascular adaptations to pregnancy. 

Andrea is passionate about advocating for expanding womens access to reproductive care in marginalized communities. In her free time, she likes to workout, play pickleball, and try new foods.