Executive Committee

I am a stem cell biologist. Following my study of natural stem cells in Hydra and Planaria during my master's, I moved on to making stem cells from mouse skin in the lab during my Ph.D. Now, I have transitioned to human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), aligning myself more closely with translational research during my Post-Doc at Columbia University. Engaged in various projects, I explore the complex mechanisms of intrinsic immunity in stem cells, specifically their defense against viral infections. My another research project is focused on understanding the impact of sleep restriction on the regeneration potential of adult stem cells.

Beyond the lab, serving as the CUPS co-vice president and co-chair of the networking community has been a tremendous experience. It allows me to discover innovative ways to collaborate with the exceptionally talented members of the CUPS team. Together, we engage in dynamic brainstorming sessions to expand our community within the university, with the aim of connecting with every individual in the extensive and dynamic postdoc and ARS population (>1600 people!). One particularly meaningful initiative, close to my heart, is the "CUPS and Startups: a Networking Series" co-developed with my colleague Mikael Pezet. This endeavor involves bringing the postdoc community into the incubator spaces within NYC, and we're immensely grateful for the warm reception from the NYC life science community. In addition to this, our regular board game nights, happy hours, city visits, and outdoor events serve as fantastic opportunities to bridge connections within the postdoc/ARS community. We at CUPS are always open to hear your ideas regarding what events would you like us to organize. Please feel free to reach out to us.

I come from The City of Joy, Kolkata, located in India. I have completed my PhD in Biotechnology from CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology. During my PhD, I tried to figure out the intricacies of The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in MASLD and hepatic proteotoxic stress. At Columbia University, I work in the Tabas laboratory at the medical campus. My research here is focused on unravelling the connection between Atherosclerosis and MASH and to delineate the molecular players involved in this axis. As the co-chair of the Outreach and Communications committee of CUPS, my endeavour will be to make science and its very many fascinating facets easily accessible to one and all by representing some chosen concepts in a lucid manner. Outside of science, I am obsessed with my fitness regime, books, podcasts, and music. I inherently have an inquisitive mind and therefore, love to explore new places and make new friends.

I am working as a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University in New York City from 2024. My research focuses on the mechanics involved in the formation of the early embryonic chicken brain. I describe myself as a scientist, engineer, and amateur artist. I have a background in mechanical engineering and material science. I find living tissues as a material to be the most fascinating. My PhD at IBEC Barcelona, Spain, involved understanding the mechanics of epithelial tissues and exploring novel ways to engineer them. Additionally, I am the convenor of the International Epithelial Mechanics Fan Club, a community I started for those who share my academic interest. I enjoy learning new things, socializing with people, reading novels, cooking curries, making origami, and walking around the central park.

I genuinely enjoy attending CUPS events and appreciate the role organizations like CUPS play in fostering communication and cohesion within the postdoctoral community. I look forward to actively participating in CUPS to help foster these connections.

I am a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Irving Institute for Cancer Dynamics focusing on single-cell sequencing-based assessment of gastric and esophageal cancer development, working with RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and spatial transcriptomics data. Before joining IICD, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow at New York University Langone Medical Center in the Department of Ophthalmology where I investigated the genetic mechanisms and biological pathways that lead to the pathogenesis of Keratoconus, a degenerative corneal disease.
I hold a PhD in Biological Sciences from Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom, but my academic journey started back in Brazil by getting my Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine at the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, where I worked for many years as an undergraduate research assistant in an animal pharmacology lab. It was my first real exposure to science and it showed me how impactful scientific discoveries can be.
I joined CUPS in 2025 and I serve as co-chair of the Outreach and Communications Committee, where I review and write blog posts about research papers from fellow Columbia postdocs. This is something I’m genuinely excited about because I love translating complex science into clear, engaging stories that can reach people beyond the academic bubble. I also really value being part of CUPS because it opens the door to meeting postdocs across different fields and interacting with scientists I wouldn’t normally work with. I find these exchanges genuinely inspiring, and they have helped me grow both as a researcher and as a science communicator.

I am an Ernest Kempton Adams Postdoctoral Fellow in the ATLAS group at Columbia University. I received my PhD in experimental particle physics from the University of Pennsylvania and my B.A. from Vassar College. My doctoral research focused on searches for beyond-the-Standard-Model physics with the ATLAS experiment at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. I joined Columbia in May 2025, where my current work includes both detector hardware upgrades for the High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider and ongoing new physics searches with ATLAS.

Beyond the lab, I am a strong advocate of science outreach and education. CUPS is an amazing organization that can foster work towards these goals with other researchers and to reach a broader community. I joined the CUPS executive team in 2025 to contribute as much as I can to this rich Columbia postdoc community. I am excited to see what this team will achieve together.

I joined Columbia University in April 2023 as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist. I earned my Ph.D. in Molecular Biology and Biomedicine from the University of Cantabria (Spain), where I studied tumor heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer. My current research focuses on hematopoietic stem cell aging using single-cell and multi-omic approaches in mice. I also study peripheral T-cell lymphomas in murine models and human samples, with a focus on how the tumor microenvironment responds to PI3K inhibition.

Beyond the lab, I am committed to public engagement and science education. As a member of the CUPS executive team, I support postdoctoral development, foster connections among postdocs, and help create programs that promote collaboration, community, and professional growth.

After obtaining my PhD at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, I crossed the pond in January 2023 to begin my postdoc at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Andrew Yates' research group. In the field of Theoretical Immunology, I apply my mathematical toolkit to address immunologically relevant questions. My primary interest lies in understanding the interplay between the immune development and anti-viral responses in infants, as well as how immune memory is established after vaccination.
As a bit of a globetrotter, I have become accustomed to creating a 'family' away from home. CUPS has been a fantastic foundation for me to do so from the very beginning. After participating in several events during my first year, I decided to give back and have become involved in the executive committee

I moved to New York in 2022 after I completed my PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of Nantes, France. My PhD work focused on investigating interactions between cell populations in a stem cell derived 3D model of the small intestine (also termed ‘organoids’), to reproduce human tissue development in vitro. My organoid research sparked my interest in how tissues acquire their shape, a field which is also called morphogenesis, which I have since transitioned to studying at Columbia, with a  focus on how mechanical forces shape tissues in development but also across different species.
Outside of the lab I love painting, trying new restaurants and exploring NYC’s many museums!
Moving to New York fresh out of my PhD and as an international postdoc, CUPS has helped me create amazing connections, both scientifically and socially, and I look forward to giving back to the community as a social manager!

I completed my PhD at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai. Since March 2024, I have been a Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia Psychiatry, where I study the mitochondrial and metabolic properties of neural circuits and their connections to psychosocial stress and health outcomes across the lifespan. Shortly after arriving in New York, I joined CUPS to connect with fellow researchers and contribute to creating a supportive and dynamic environment for postdocs. This has helped me open doors to exciting opportunities for community building. Since September 2024, I’ve been serving as Co- Vice President of CUPS for CUIMC. In this role, I work closely with an incredible team of colleagues to foster a sense of community among postdoctoral scholars. Together, we design and implement initiatives to enhance engagement, provide professional development opportunities, and create a supportive environment for navigating the postdoc life at Columbia.

I received my Ph.D. in Atmospheric Science from Sorbonne Université (Paris). Since October 2023, I have been a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Columbia University Climate School and the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York. I am broadly interested in Earth's climate system, with a focus on clouds. My research aims to better understand the cloud radiative effect and cloud feedback. I typically work with satellite observations, in combination with radiative transfer codes and climate models, aiming to improve our understanding of clouds and climate projections.

Shortly after settling in New York, I began attending several events organized by CUPS. I really enjoyed meeting new researchers, building connections, and becoming part of the community. After a few months, I joined the Networking Committee, and later transitioned to serving as Co-president. I love organizing events and fostering meaningful connections within the group.