Collin K. Kieffer

Collin K. Kieffer is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, affiliated with the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, and Grainger College of Engineering. His research focuses on HIV pathogenesis using advanced imaging techniques, including multiscale tissue imaging to study viral dissemination and latent reservoirs in humanized animal models and human patient samples. He holds a B.S. in Bacteriology and Genetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Utah, and completed postdoctoral training in Oncology at the University of Utah and in Biology and Biological Engineering at Caltech.

Research Interests: Dr. Kieffer’s work integrates cutting-edge imaging methods such as tissue clearing, electron microscopy, and light-sheet fluorescence microscopy to visualize HIV infection dynamics. His lab investigates mechanisms of HIV spread, reservoir persistence under antiretroviral therapy, and evaluates treatment efficacy. Recent projects explore viral interactions with immune cells in tissues, engineering anti-viral red blood cells, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein biology.

Labs & Affiliations: The Kieffer Lab leads interdisciplinary research at the intersection of virology and imaging, collaborating with institutions such as the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. His work bridges basic science and translational medicine, aiming to develop therapeutic strategies against HIV and other viral pathogens.