Skip to main content

Team

Principal Investigator

Dr. Pabi Sahoo is originally from India. He received his Ph.D. from The National Center for Cell Science, University of Pune, India studying the connections between Wnt signaling and stress granules (SGs) with Dr. Jomon Joseph. In his graduate studies, he investigated SGs that formed under pharmacological stress conditions, which piqued his interest in identifying their role during physiological conditions. He then joined the lab of Dr. Jeff Twiss at the University of South Carolina where he used different types of neurons to answer this question. The highly polarized morphology of neurons provided him an elegant system to study these SGs. His work showed that axons do contain SGs under physiological conditions and those are used to store mRNAs.
He enjoys hiking, karaoke singing, and drumming.

 

Postdoctoral Fellows

Dr. Meghal Desai

Ph.D. (Biotechnology): NCCS, University of Pune

Meghal completed her Ph.D. studies in molecular neurobiology at the NCCS, University of Pune.

She is an anthophile and astrophile who also enjoys cooking, jogging, and binge-watching on weekends.

Email: meghal.desai@rutgers.edu

 

 

Dr. Manasi Agrawal

Ph.D. (Neuroscience): Kent State University

Manasi completed her Ph.D. studies in developmental neurobiology at the Kent State University.

She loves to sketch, and is our official lab baker.

Email: manasi.agrawal@rutgers.edu

 

 

Ph.D. Students 

Shruti Ghumra, MS

BSc. (Microbiology), MS (Biological Sc): Mumbai, India

Shruti is a third year PhD student at Rutgers University, Newark.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Mithibai College, India, and a master’s degree in Biological Sciences from NMIMS, Mumbai, India. She conducted her MS dissertation research at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B), India in the field of nanotechnology.

Beyond the lab, she finds joy in cooking, calligraphy, and the warmth of catching up with friends.

Email: sg2078@newark.rutgers.edu

 

Yashashree Bhorkar, MS

BSc. (Biotechnology), MS (Biotechnology): Pune, India

Yashashree is a third year PhD at Rutgers University, Newark.

She completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biotechnology at Fergusson College in Pune, India. She conducted her MS dissertation research at the National Centre for Microbial Resources (NCMR) in Pune, India, in the field of microbiology.

Beyond the lab, she finds joy in cooking, playing badminton, and the warmth of catching up with friends.

Email: yb356@newark.rutgers.edu

 

Sanjana Thanedar, Rotating Ph.D Student

BSc. (Biotechnology): Mumbai University / MS (Molecular Genetics and Genomics): Wayne State University, Michigan

Sanjana is a second year PhD student at Rutgers University, Newark.

She completed her bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology at Mumbai University and her MS in Molecular Genetics and Genomics from Wayne State University, Michigan.

She loves to sing, and enjoys reading thriller novels in her spare time. (Fun fact: she is also ambidextrous!)

Email: srt132@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

 

Elina Nemtsov, Rotating Ph.D Student

BSc. (Mathematics and Computer Science) Bar Ilan University, BSc. (Life Sciences) Open University, MS (Biology): Rutgers University, Newark

Elina completed her bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science at Bar-Ilan University and Life Sciences at the Open University of Israel, her MBA at Tel Aviv University, and her master’s degree in Biology at Rutgers University, Newark. She did her MS dissertation research in Dr. Wilma Friedman’s lab, studying tau regulation and axonal degeneration. Before transitioning to biological research, she spent over a decade at PayPal as a developer preventing fraud.

Beyond the lab, she enjoys reading and jogging, but as a mother of four, she spends most weekends being either a soccer mom or a dance mom.

Email: en335@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

 

Masters Students

Yuri Kato (Class of 2027)

BSc. (Biological Sciences): George Washington University

Yuri is a Masters student at Rutgers University, Newark.

Her hobbies include hiking, travel & landscape photography, reading, and playing with her cats.

Email: yk750@scarletmail.rutgers.edu 

 

Undergraduates Students

Alana Lore (Class of 2027)

Alana is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Newark, and she wants to major in biology.

She likes hanging out with her friends and family, sewing, photography, watching hockey (she is a NJ Devils Fan!), and going to live music shows/concerts.

Email: aml490@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

 

 

 

Arshdeep Parmar (Class of 2029)

Arshdeep is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Newark. She plans to double major in applied mathematics and psychology with a minor in pre-health.

Her hobbies include running, mindful organization, driving, and nail art.

 

 

 

 

Nethra Sriram

Nethra is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Newark, majoring in Neurobiology with a second concentration in the Honors College.

Her hobbies include photography, learning classical music on the flute, reading, and playing chess.

Email: ns1700@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

 

 

 

 

Ikram Ashi

Ikram is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Newark

Her favorite hobbies include going on walks, hanging out with friends, and cooking/baking. She plans to major in neuroscience.

Email: ika14@scarletmail.rutgers.edu

 

 

 

 

Ny-Ziah Hamilton-Hill 
Ny-Ziah is an undergraduate student at Rutgers University, Newark.
Her hobbies include reading, drawing, and snowboarding.

 

 

 

Lab Alumni

 

Love Singh (Summer Intern, University of Michigan)

Lahiri Kuchibatla (Summer Intern, Boston  University)

Kaili Taylor (Rotating Ph.D. Student,Fall 2023)

Krishna Rana (Undergraduate at NJIT, Class of 2026)

Noor Amira (Undergraduate at RU-Newark, Class of 2026)

Mohamed Amer (Undergraduate at RU-Newark, Class of 2026)

Keya Gulati (Undergraduate at NJIT, Class of 2026)

Alaa Karim (Undergraduate at RU-Newark, Class of 2025)

Krystina Carrington (Intern, North Star Academy High School)

Oluwasemipe Adebiyi Hunter (Ella) (Intern, North Star Academy High School)