Education: Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology (Atmiya University), P.G. Diploma in Bioinformatics (NV Patel College of Pure and Applied Life Science, CVM University), Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Biotechnology (Northeastern University)

Research Projects: I am currently engaged in developing a novel mouse model to study retinal degradation resulting from Fam 161a deficiency. Additionally I am actively involved in conducting sectioning and staining procedures as part of this project.

Research Interest: Gene Therapy, Gene Knockout, Vaccinology, Virology, Drug Discovery, Infectious Diseases, Bioinformatics

Career Ambition: Empowering lives through impactful biotechnological solutions, leveraging my passion and expertise to make meaningful contributions that address pressing societal challenges.

Awards & Honors: Understanding Cancer Metastasis (John Hopkins University), Introduction to Molecular Spectroscopy (The University of Manchester), The Science of Stem Cells (American Museum of Natural History), Collaborated in a six-day E-workshop on National Competitive examinations, organized by Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, Represented my college by participating in a two-day international webinar on biotechnological advancements of the 21st century, Engaged in National Seminar on recent trends in system biology and Omics Technology

vvachhani@meei.harvard.edu

Education Background: B.S. Health Science Studies from Quinnipiac University

Career Ambition: Continue to explore and pursue opportunities in Healthcare Administration

posborn@meei.harvard.edu

Education Background: BS in Agronomy, Zhejiang University, China; PhD in Molecular Biology, UCLA

Research Projects: Capsid engineering of AAV

Research Interest: Delivery method for gene therapy

Career Ambition: Develop translational products to benefit patients

hliu41@meei.harvard.edu

Education: Bachelors and Masters in Biotechnology, Doctoral degree in Synthetic Biology

Research Projects: I am undertaking the existing challenge associated with the manufacturing of AAV vectors by adopting a synthetic biology approach in engineering the key molecular determinants.

Research Interest: Gene Therapy, Synthetic Biology, DNA/RNA therapeutics, Viral vectors development/engineering

Career Ambition: Development of genetic medicines while using the principles of synthetic biology

Awards & Honors: Scholarships for both Masters and Bachelors studies from the respective educational institutions.

jdoshi1@meei.harvard.edu

Education: BSc – Biology, Imperial College London, MSc – Biotechnology, ETH Zurich

Research Project: Engineering AAVs to study hematopoiesis and aging

mflorea@g.harvard.edu

Education: BS in Biological Sciences/Biotech, University of Massachusetts Lowell, RALAT Certified, Certificate in Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Boston University

Research Project: Gene Therapy

Research Interest: Gene therapy and drug discovery

Career Ambition: To further my study in Animal Research and Epidemiology

Membership: Member of New England Branch for American Association of Laboratory Animal Sciences (NEBAALAS)

reynette_estelien@meei.harvard.edu

Education: B.Sc., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, U. of Miami; ALM, Biotechnology, Harvard Extension School (in progress)

Research Project: Quality Control, Vector Characterization, Nucleic Acid Quantification, Discovery Group

Research Interest: AAV Structure, Virology, Biology of Memory, Personal Medicine

Career Ambition: Ph.D. and long life learning

Membership: ASGCT

julio_sanmiguel@meei.harvard.edu

Education: MS Molecular and Cell Biology, B.Tech Biotechnology

Research Project: Use diverse molecular biology tools to perform cloning

Research Interest: Synthetic Biology, Molecular Biology

Career Ambition:

• Short-term: Achieve excellence in practicing my education, skills and expertise in Molecular Biology & Bioanalytical techniques.
• Long-Term: Gain meaningful experience to work for betterment of society.

Awards and Honors:

• Awarded GOLD MEDAL & Merit Scholarship in Biotechnology for consistently outstanding performance, D.Y. Patil University, 2016.
• Accorded prestigious Scholarship for Higher Education (SHE), Gov. of India, 2011.
• Won Amul Vidya Bhusan award for academic excellence in science stream, 2011.
• Awarded Certificate of Honor and Memento by current Prime Minister of India, Shree Narendra Modi for participation in National Biodiversity Quiz, 2007

urja_bhatt@meei.harvard.edu

Anil Chekuri, PhD, has been focused on understanding the molecular bases of Inherited Retinal Degenerations (IRDs) and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD). He aims to investigate key molecular pathways underlying several forms of retinal dystrophies and development of therapeutic targets to rescue retinal function. His research also focuses on the development of novel Adeno Associated Viral (AAV) vectors with improved retinal tropism and efficacy for therapeutic delivery suitable for translational studies. Dr. Chekuri is currently working to develop gene therapy for various forms of retinal disorders.

achekuri@mgh.harvard.edu

Nerea Zabaleta, PhD, is an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Her research lab forms part of the Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, USA, and of the Ocular Genomics Institute. She received a PhD degree in biomedical research from the University of Navarra, Spain, in 2018. She has a strong background in translational gene editing and gene therapy for inherited liver metabolic disorders as well as preclinical development of vaccines. Her laboratory aims at developing and optimizing adeno-associated viral vector (AAV)-based therapies for inherited and infectious disorders. Her goal is to create custom AAV vectors that adequate to the needs of each disease and target specific cell types rather than specific organs, creating more effective and safer therapies. Her work has been published in high impact journals, and she is inventor of two patents, including an AAV-based vaccine platform. Additionally, she is a board member of ECUSA (Spanish Scientist in the USA, non-profit) and volunteers her time to advocating for inclusion and gender equity.

nerea_zabaletalasarte@meei.harvard.edu