Meet The Team
Principal Investigator
Utthara Nayar
I earned my BS degrees 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.
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.
Research Technologist
Alexa Tokofsky
I graduated from UNC Charlotte with a BA degree in Biology and a minor in Spanish. I am an aspiring medical student with a strong passion for research. My background in research began with studying muscle biology and physiology during my undergraduate career, but I have since developed an interest in cancer biology and epidemiology. I am originally from Baltimore, and love being back in my home city, working with JHU. I enjoy playing tennis, reading, trying new coffee shops, and playing with my dog!
ScM student
Amanda Boccolucci
Hi! I’m an ScM student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I earned my BS degree in Biology from Canisius University in Buffalo, NY. I’ve been involved in research since undergrad, and after graduating I worked as a technician at a sequencing facility. Outside of lab, I enjoy trying out new hobbies (embroidery currently), watching reality tv and camping with my family.
ScM student
Aashna Saxena
Hello! I'm an ScM student in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. I earned my Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from BITS Pilani. I've been passionate about cancer research since undergrad, and worked at a computational cancer systems biology lab for a year after graduating. My research interests lie in uncovering transcriptional regulatory networks implicated in cancer progression.
Outside of lab, I enjoy painting, baking and hiking. I'm also a big rock and indie music buff - don't be surprised if there's always a Ticketmaster tab open on my laptop!
JHU PREP Scholar
Harpeet Kaur
Hi! I'm a VTSI-funded PREP scholar, and I hope to eventually get my PhD in Genetics/Cancer Biology. I earned my BS in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology from San Jose State University. In my previous research, I was part of the Skovran lab that researched bacteria with the ability to recycle lanthanides from electronic waste. I also worked in industry on NGS research involving oncology applications after my undergrad.
I'm originally from California (Bay Area/Central Valley) so I've also had the opportunity to dabble in programming, and I enjoy learning more about bioinformatics. Other ways I love spending my time is being outdoors, exploring new hobbies, and learning new tidbits of information.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Pooja Goswami
Hi, I’m a Postdoctoral researcher at the Nayar lab. I’m originally from India and my ethnicity is a bit chaotic as my parents are from two very different states in the country and I’ve grown up moving through an even wider array of locales.
I moved to New York, to pursue my Ph.D. at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where I learnt a lot about how our cells are brilliant at figuring out how much to grow so we stay healthy. After that adventure, I then joined the Yale School of Medicine to dip my toe into core Biology, to eventually migrate into translational, application-based research. Now, at the Nayar Lab, I look forward to making contributions towards ameliorating endocrine therapeutic resistances in cancer.
Outside the lab, I have a husband and two fur-babies, a kitty and a pup (major cuddlers) and I love mythology, horror, true-crime, fantasy and science fiction almost as much as science (you can find me passaging cells at the cell-culture hood while I listen to podcasts about mythical Greek creatures (like gorgons and centaurs) and real-life monsters (i.e, Bundy and Gacy). I love animals, music, traveling, reading, Legos, and experimenting in the kitchen! P.s- I’m a die-hard Potterhead!
Graduate Student Volunteer
Benjamin Tressler
An MS student at Johns Hopkins University, I specialize in Biotechnology with a concentration in Biodefense. My research interests cover areas of cancer therapeutics, biodefense strategies, and biological and chemical threat assessments. With a BA in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and management consulting experience, covering the Middle East, Africa, and European markets, I have gained great exposure working in various industries, including tech, government, healthcare, finance, energy, and many more.
Born and raised in Dubai, the UAE, I enjoyed growing up in a vibrant, multicultural environment. Outside of academia, I am a professionally trained musician and singer, a competitive gamer, avid documentary viewer, and a lover of all things humorous.
Undergraduate Researcher
Julianna Wu
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.
Apply Today
We're always seeking passionate researchers (students, research techs, postdocs). Reach out to us!
Twitter: at_Nayar_Lab