Cary is a Professor in the department of Microbiology and Immunology and a member of the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC Chapel Hill. She earned a PhD from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport in 2004 where she investigated a role for the latent membrane protein 2A (LMP2A) of Epstein-Barr Virus in tumor progression with Dr. John Sixbey. She then completed a post-doc at Northwestern University where she developed an interest in HPV pathogenesis working with Dr. Lou Laimins where she focused on mechanisms that regulate the productive life cycle of HPV. Since 2010, Dr. Moody has mentored a number of students and senior scientists in her research program at UNC. 

​

Awards and Honors

• National Institutes of Health K99 Pathway to Independence Award Recipient, 2008-present

• Katten-Muchin-Rosenman Travel Scholarship Award, Northwestern University, 2006.

• American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellowship Recipient, 2006-2008

• National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Fellowship Recipient, 2005-2006

Huirong is a posdoctoral researcher in the labs of Dr. Blossom Damania and Cary Moody. She received her graduate and PhD training in botany and molecular biology in China before coming to the United States to continue her career. Her research interests include viral pathogenesis, innate immunity, and RNA biology, with a particular interest in oncogenic DNA viruses, including HPV, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). She is particularly interested in understanding how virus-host interactions influence antiviral signaling and viral persistence. Outside of the lab, Huirong enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and exploring new places. 

Shelby is originally from Virginia and graduated with a B.S. in biology from Old Dominion University in 2016. She worked in various biological quality/microbiology labs across North Carolina at Pfizer for four years. While at Pfizer, Shelby pursued a masters of science degree in immunology from Drexel University, where she graduated from in May 2026. She is applying to the UNC PhD program and hopes to start in August 2027. Her research interests include immunology, virology, and vaccine development. She joined the Moody lab in 2024 as a research specialist and lab manager and her current research investigates the role of DNA methyltransferases in the early life cycle of HPV31 infection. When not in the lab, Shelby is usually hanging out with her family, taking care of her horse, Tucker, or preparing for her next big race!

Trinity is a 3rd-year PhD student in the Pathobiology & Translational Science program. She graduated from UVA in 2023 with a bachelors in biology and a minor in bioethics. Her previous research experiences focused on kidney disease in the lab of Dr. Peter Lobo (UVA) and work on ubiquitin ligases in the lab of Dr. Jonathan Schisler (UNC). In the Moody Lab, she is interested in cell death and innate immune signaling pathways in the context of HPV infection. She also has a broad interest in diseases impacting women's health and is completing a graduate certificate in women's health research. As an NC native, Trinity loves traveling from the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between. If she's not in lab, you can find her taking care of her plants or enjoying a meal at the many great restaurants in the Triangle.

Alyssa is a 6th-year PhD student in the Genetics and Molecular Biology program. She earned a B.S. from Clemson University in 2021, where she studied cancer biology in the lab of Dr. Jennifer Mason. She began her PhD at UNC in 2021, training first in Dr. Dale Ramsden's lab, where she investigated DNA repair and genome stability. In 2025, she joined the Moody lab, where her research now focuses on DNA repair factors in HPV replication. In her free time, Alyssa performs with a jazz funk dance team and collects books from various thrift stores in the Triangle!

Nigel is a 2nd-year PhD Student in the Microbiology and Immunology program. He graduated from UNC in 2023 with a bachelors in biology. As an undergraduate and research technician, he conducted research in the lab of Dr. Helen Lazear investigating herpes simplex virus pathogenesis and host genetic susceptibility to viral infections in mice. In the Moody Lab, Nigel is studying mechanisms of innate immune evasion of oncogenic DNA viruses and how these viruses remodel epithelial cell states to promote persistence and oncogenesis, as well as the role of epigenetics in regulating the life cycle of persistent viruses. Outside of the lab, Nigel can be found making music with friends, camping, or hanging out with his cat. 

Lauren is a first-year undergraduate at UNC Chapel Hill majoring in biology. In high school, Lauren spent three months interning at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in the lab of Dr. Charles Sawyers where she worked with her mentor, Zhendong Cao. In the Sawyers lab, she assisted with projects related to prostate cancer, specifically on the expression of FOXA1 and WNT pathway signaling. In the fall of 2026, Lauren joined the Moody lab where she works as an undergraduate research assistant. Outside of the lab, Lauren is on the UNC Women's Club lacrosse team and is a member of Tri Delta.