Meet the Members of MTTC

MTTC is SLB's Members in Transition and Training committee.  This group is lead by trainee members and the efforts are focused on society resources and services for SLB trainee members; a true grassroots effort! Meet the dedicated individuals who volunteer their time in providing this valuable service to the society and the community.

Name: Anandita Basu
Job title and lab/institute: Post Doctoral Research Associate, Department of Surgery, Rhode Island Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island
Country of origin / residence: India / USA
My research: In my current research project, I am trying to investigate the mechanisms of neutrophil dysfunction post hemorrhagic shock.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: Being a member of the SLB, I feel included in the ‘leukocyte family’ which comprises of experts from around the globe, providing me with first-hand opportunities to acquire knowledge from the group and improve my networking.
Proudest career achievement to date: To be a part of my current postdoc lab, the opportunity to take up challenging projects and to be able to help my lab members in their projects, as well as to learn throughout the process.
Fun fact: In addition to my passion for science, I have an ardent interest for dance (currently pursuing Indian classical dance), and to practice yoga!

Name: Anagha Betadpur
Job title and lab/institute: PhD Candidate, Elsa Bou Ghanem Lab,  University of Buffalo
Country of origin / residence: USA / USA
My research: I am trying to understand the role of neutrophils in age-associated decline in pneumococcal vaccine efficacy.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: I get to attend workshops and seminars that are very informative and help me learn a lot.
Proudest career achievement to date: I am an inventor on a patent for a skin-brightening composition
Fun fact:  I love photography and traveling.

Name: Kiana Bynum
Job title and lab/institute: PhD Candidate in the lab of Jason Kay, Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Country of origin / residence: USA / USA
My research: I study host-pathogen interactions between neutrophils and oral microbes.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: One benefit of being an SLB member is having access to a diverse professional network to learn and grow from.
Proudest career achievement to date: Being awarded a NIH NRSA fellowship.
Fun fact: I love to sing, write, indulge in literature, and support the arts!

Name: Havisha Honwad
Job title and lab/institute: Recently completed my PhD from Irazoqui Lab, Department of Microbiological and Physiological Systems (MaPS) at UMass Medical School, Worcester
Country of origin / residence: India / United States
My research: I study transcriptional programs that control macrophage phenotype and response.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: Networking and career development opportunities + I am currently a member in transition
Proudest career achievement to date: Successfully defended my dissertation very recently
Fun fact: Indian classical music and dance enthusiast

Name: Vijay Sai Josyula
Job title and lab/institute: Doctoral Student, Christoffersson lab, Uppsala University
Country of origin / residence: India / Sweden
My research: I work to understand the communication between nerves and immune cells in health and disease and their potential role in autoimmune diabetes.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: This would help me connect to like-minded researchers and find peers and mentors apart from networking.
Proudest career achievement to date: I had an opportunity to present a flash talk for my poster at SLB 2022.
Fun fact: Apart from science I like to play volleyball and travel whenever I get the opportunity to.

Name: Alexsandra Lenhard 
Job title and lab/institute: PhD Candidate, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine
Country of origin / residence: USA / USA
My research: Determining the role of PMNs during the transition of S. pneumoniae from colonizer to pathogen upon viral infection
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: Networking
Proudest career achievement to date: Writing a methods paper for a new IAV/pneumococcal co-infection model
Fun fact: I am a first generation college student

Name: Shaunna Simmons
Job title and lab/institute: PhD Candidate, Bou Ghanem Lab, University at Buffalo
Country of origin / residence: USA / USA
My research: I study how host aging contributes to the decline in neutrophil antimicrobial function following S. pneumoniae infection and how the extracellular adenosine pathway regulates these changes.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: Some benefits of being a member of SLB are getting to attend seminars/webinars and being able to get involved in the SLB community.
Proudest career achievement to date: Getting an F31 fellowship from the NIH
Fun fact: I like to go hiking (as long as it isn’t snowing in Buffalo)

Name: Bhagawat C. Subramanian
Job title and lab/institute: Research Associate, Lineberger Cancer Institute UNC Chapel Hill, USA
Country of origin / residence: India / USA
My research: My research aims to understand how the tuning of cytoskeleton impacts vesicular-endomembrane system, and vice versa, in the context of immune and tumor cell responses.
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: To me, SLB provides a fantastic base to explore multiple avenues to learn and fine tune one’s socio-scientific skills. Being part of MTTC at SLB, I get to interact with members of diverse and inclusive backgrounds, as well as contribute productively to the cause of a truly unique society!
Proudest career achievement to date: I am proud of all the moments where my interactions with mentees, peers and collaborators have led to ‘smart’ experiments that provided critical as well as timely understanding of the underlying problem!
Fun fact: I find the outdoors, especially hiking, a great way to unwind, relax and refresh perspectives!

Name: Essi Yayra Ines Tchalla
Job title and lab/institute: Postdoctoral Scientist at UMass Chan Medical School
Country of origin / residence:  Togo / USA 
My research: Characterizing the effect of the gut microbiome on immune cells responses at distal tissues in health and disease 
Favorite benefit of being an SLB member: Having access to a variety of webinars on diverse topics which are very beneficial as a trainee.
Proudest career achievement to date: Successfully defending my thesis and earning my doctorate
Fun fact: I love to crochet in my free time