Meet The Team

I spent my childhood in Oman, then earned my BS (double major) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and my PhD from Cornell University in NYC. I completed postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, and started the Nayar laboratory at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2021. I'm passionate about making an impact on the lives of cancer patients, and mentoring the next generation of researchers.

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In my non-science life, I'm a professionally-trained Indian classical dancer, and adore music, travel, food, and the arts. I'm also (unfortunately?) a political junkie, and a sucker for rhetorical debates over beers.

Hello! I’m an undergraduate at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Public Health volunteering at the Nayar Lab. I’m passionate about breast cancer, where I previously investigated CDK4/6is and cancer resistance over the summer. Outside of the lab, I am a member of the Hopkins Women’s fencing team and I teach in Special Art, a program offering art classes to kids with special needs. In my free time, I enjoy reading and you can always find me looking for my next book on Goodreads. 

Hello! I’m a research technologist at the Nayar Lab. Originally from South Korea, I completed my undergraduate studies at Duke Kunshan University, spending time in both China and the U.S., where I first explored how ascites creates a protective niche from ferroptosis for metastasizing ovarian cancer. I’m passionate about understanding the heterogeneity of cancer that drives clinical challenges. I went on to earn my master’s degree at the Johns Hopkins BSPH, and at the Nayar Lab, I’ve been diving deeper into mechanisms of resistance in breast cancer using functional genomics and molecular techniques. 

I believe science is a deeply human endeavor and should be used “for good,” and I’m fascinated by how science connects with communication, policy, and society — science isn’t just a “nerdy” thing. Outside the lab, I love exploring new places, practicing yoga, reading, blogging, and binging films. Oh, and I’m a big fan of acidic coffee!

Coming soon

Originally hailing from Florida, I graduated with my Biology degree in 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic. I spent two and a half years working for the Florida Department of Health sequencing pathogens before transitioning to cancer research at the National Cancer Institute. As a post-baccalaureate fellow & iCURE Scholar, my work focused on the interactions of genomic and environmental contributors to cancer risk. During my fellowship, I explored the public health intersection of this work by earning my MPH from JHSPH. In a nutshell, I'm interested in how the invisible forces around us (physical, social, or otherwise) influence our genomes and contribute to disease outcomes. Outside of the lab I enjoy cooking, a good cuppa with my cats, and listening to pulpy sci-fi audiobooks while doing something crafty.

I grew up in Chennai, India, in a family that nurtured debate and scientific curiosity, which fueled my fascination with the life sciences. This led me to earn a B.Tech in Biotechnology from Manipal University, after which I worked as a Clinical Programmer at GlaxoSmithKline on clinical trials in the oncology biostatistics division, focusing on multiple myeloma. This experience introduced me to cancer research and inspired me to pursue an M.S. in Bioinformatics at Johns Hopkins University, where I gained training in methods such as RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and methylation analysis through both coursework and research assistantships. I am eager to apply these skills and leverage data-driven approaches to uncover meaningful biological insights and contribute to advancing care for patients with breast and ovarian cancer.

Outside of science, I am a classically trained singer and dancer, and yoga has been a steady part of my life. I can also never resist a spirited trivia night, where I get to put my chaotic mix of knowledge in pop culture, literature, and science to the test; because it has to be useful somewhere!

Hi, I am a postdoctoral fellow in the Nayar Lab. I completed my undergraduate studies in Pharmacology and Toxicology at SUNY Buffalo, where I grew up. During this time, I interned at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on breast and ovarian cancer research. There, I worked on identifying new biomarkers and developing therapeutic strategies that exploit DNA repair defects in triple-negative breast cancer. I went on to pursue a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at Johns Hopkins University, where my research centered on the enzymatic regulation of SAMHD1 and its novel ability to undergo phase separation.

I am excited to return to oncology and therapeutics research, particularly in breast and ovarian cancer, through my postdoctoral training in the Nayar Lab.

Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring restaurants and bars in the DMV area, hiking, swimming, and spending time with my partner. I also have a guinea pig named Myc who I love to spend time with on the weekends.

Hey there, I’m a Virginia native and graduate from Virginia Tech, where I earned dual degrees in biochemistry and biology and became fascinated with the field of research. I spent several years in an analytical chemistry lab, working to extract and quantify nutrients for reporting to the USDA‘s nutrient database. Although I enjoyed this experience in analytical chemistry, I realized my passion was in human health research, hoping to pursue cancer biology. I’m proud to be earning a Master’s in biochemistry and molecular biology here at Johns Hopkins, where I’m thrilled to take on this new field of research as I learn more about the depth and complexity of breast cancer every day in the Nayar Lab.

Outside the lab I enjoy cooking and trying new foods, exploring the outdoors, and travelling. Every Saturday during football season, you’ll find me cheering on the Hokies.  

My upbringing took me to several places and cultures across India, and each has shaped the way I think about the world and about science. My family is originally from Punjab, but I grew up in Bombay and went to school in Chennai. 

I’d always been an avid enjoyer of the arts and sciences, an ode to the liberal arts curriculum, but my curiosity about biology took a more formal shape when I joined the Master's program here at Hopkins. I became fascinated by a simple but powerful idea: every single biological phenomenon in the human body is brought about by cells and the storm of chemicals brewing in them. 

At the Nayar Lab I am excited to contribute to breast cancer translational research and help take science from the bench to the bedside. I am intrigued by molecular cascades and drug development just as much as I am by the dissemination of scientific information, and translation of lab work into patient care, clinical impact and treatment strategies.

Outside the lab, I enjoy exploring Baltimore’s theaters, attending trivia nights and live concerts, and having long conversations about the history of science. I am also a classically trained dancer and singer and an advocate for raising awareness about autoimmune diseases.