Our Team
Yogesh Goyal (he/him)
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University
B.S., Chemical Engineering (Honors), Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar
Yogesh grew up in a rural village in Jammu & Kashmir in India, and has a multidisciplinary background with his undergraduate in chemical engineering, graduate research in quantitative developmental biology, and postdoctoral training in single-cell biology. Yogesh is excited and committed to building an interdisciplinary, collaborative, vibrant, and supportive team. Outside of research, Yogesh enjoys sports, drawing and engaging in art-science projects, pumpkin spice lattes, and (intuitive) cooking. Here’s Yogesh’s CV, a brief video on his journey, and a podcast on his group’s recent discovery.Postdocs
Nitu Kumari (she/her)
Postdoc | HFSP Long-term Fellow | CSB Postdoc Fellow
B.Sc., Biotechnology, Vinoba Bhave University, Jharkhand M.S., and Ph.D., Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
Nitu is a postdoc in the Goyal lab. Born and raised in Jharkhand, India, her background is in DNA repair and non-B DNA structures in genomic stability. In the Goyal lab, she focuses on mapping how cellular states give rise to distinct outcomes, studying cell state and fate decisions using lineage tracing and single-cell approaches. In her free time, Nitu enjoys music and can often be found by Lake Michigan during the summer.
Nathaniel Campbell (he/him)
Postdoc | Dermatology T32 Fellow
B.A. and M.S., Chemistry, Brandeis University Ph.D., Physiology, Biophysics and Systems Biology, Cornell University/Sloan Kettering Institute M.D., University of Illinois College of Medicine
Nate is a postdoctoral fellow and Dermatology resident in the Goyal lab. Building on his background in chemistry, nanotechnology, cancer and systems biology, he is interested in the role of cell-cell interaction in melanoma initiation and progression. In his free time, Nate can be found exploring Chicago, riding his bike and trying to find a great cup of coffee.
Yuval Scher (he/him)
Postdoc | HFSP Cross-Disciplinary Fellow
B.Sc., Chemistry, Tel Aviv University M.Sc. and Ph.D., Physical Chemistry, Tel Aviv University
Yuval is a postdoctoral researcher in the Goyal lab. His background ranges over various fields of physical chemistry: diffusion-NMR, stochastic processes, first-passage problems and chemical kinetics. In the Goyal lab, Yuval develops synthetic biology tools for controlled endogenous cross-generational delays in gene expression. In parallel, he develops theoretical frameworks to better understand cellular and biological processes. Outside the lab, you can find Yuval composing for his music project UNK, learning languages, and playing sports.
Website
Ben Kuznets-Speck (he/him)
Postdoc | NUCATS T32 Fellow
B.S., Mathematics and Physics, Case Western Reserve University Ph.D., Biophysics, University of California, Berkeley
Ben is a postdoctoral researcher in the Goyal lab. Building on his background in statistical physics and transcriptomics, Ben is broadly interested in rare events in single-cell biophysics, from cancer metastasis to drug resistance. Outside the lab, you can find Ben running, cooking and hanging out with friends by the water when it's nice out.
Email |Twitter | Website
Irish Senthilkumar (he/him)
Postdoc
B.Sc., Computer Science and Information Technology, University of Galway M.Sc., Artificial Intelligence, University of Galway Ph.D., Computational Mechanobiology, University of Galway
Irish is a postdoctoral researcher in the Goyal lab. Born in India and raised in Ireland, his diverse background ranges from high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to cell modeling and mechanics. His research stands at the apex of mechanobiology and computer science, and in the Goyal lab, he is interested in bringing computational mechanobiology ideas to stem cell models and perturbation datasets. In his free time, Irish loves to travel, read non-fiction, and all things about motorsports.PhD Students
Emanuelle Grody (she/her)
PhD Student | Driskill Graduate Program | SynBAS NRT Fellow | NIH F31 Fellow
B.S. Molecular Cellular & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan
Emmie is a fifth year PhD student in the Goyal lab, hailing originally from Newton, MA, just outside Boston. Her research interests include how single cell heterogeneity drives disease progression, and using and building new technologies. Other passions include books, fencing and other sports, and bringing people together over food.
Twitter
Madeline Melzer (she/her)
PhD Student | Driskill Graduate Program | Ryan Fellow | Carcinogenesis T32
B.S., Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Madeline is a fourth year PhD student in the Goyal lab. She is a Chicago native and has a background in biochemistry and analytical chemistry. Madeline is broadly interested in what makes a cell good (or bad) at adapting to change. Outside of the lab, you can find her at one of the city’s beaches biking, playing volleyball, and hammocking, or at home cooking and watercolor painting.
Hanxiao Sun (she/her)
PhD Student | Biomedical Engineering
B.S., Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles M.S., Biotechnology, Northwestern University
Hanxiao joined Goyal Lab as a MBP student and is now a first year BME PhD student. Originally from Wuxi, China, she embarked on her undergraduate journey in the United States in 2018. Her research interests revolve around investigating the response of cancer cells to drug treatments and exploring the realm of single cell. Outside the lab, she finds joy in traveling and experiencing diverse cultures, cooking, reading, and engaging in deep conversations.
Gillian Primavera (she/her)
PhD Student | Biomedical Engineering | BTP T32 Fellow
B.S.E., Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan
Gillian is a second year BME PhD student in the Goyal lab, originally from Trumbull, CT. She is interested in developmental biology and regenerative engineering. She aims to research what factors influence stem cell fate within the tissue/3D space. She is a huge animal lover, loves skiing, and being outdoors!
Email
Amir Darbar (he/him)
MSTP (MD-PhD) Student | Driskill Graduate Program
B.S., Computer Science, University of Chicago
Amir is an MD PhD student in the Goyal lab who grew up in Chicago. He is interested in developing quantitative understandings of biological phenomena and studying emergence. Outside of the lab, he likes reading, working out, hiking, and drinking tea.
Jacob Schlamowtiz (he/him)
MSTP (MD-PhD) Student | Driskill Graduate Program
B.S., Applied Mathematics and Biology, City University of New York - Brooklyn College
Jacob is an MD/PhD student in the Goyal lab, originally from Brooklyn, NY, with a background in biology and applied mathematics. He is interested in making predictive cancer models to better understand how cancer progresses. Outside of lab, he enjoys mixology, cooking, and climbing.
Wanji Li (he/him)
PhD Student | Driskill Graduate Program | Ryan Fellow (co-advised with Shana Kelley)
B.S., Applied Science in Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis
Wanji is a first year PhD student joint between the Goyal lab and Kelley lab. He grew up in China and pursued his undergraduate studies in the United States. He aims to develop high-throughput methods to study how immune cells respond to inflammation stressors. Outside the lab, he enjoys speed skating and aviation.
Leon Schwartz (he/him)
Research Scholar | Bioinformatics
B.S. and M.S. Bioinformatics, Technical University of Munich/ Ludwigs-Maximilian-University, Munich
Leon joined the lab as a masters student and is now continuing in the lab as a research scholar after completing his masters degree. He was born and raised in Munich, Germany. Previous studies on nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells, particularly using single-cell sequencing, prompted him to join the Goyal Lab. He would be excited to continue his academic journey with a Ph.D. after the master’s program. When he's not in the lab, he enjoys traveling with friends, engaging in outdoor sports, and playing the piano.
Jaekwon Jung (he/him)
Research Scholar | Biotechnology
B.S., Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent University
M.S. Biotechnology, Northwestern University
Jaekwon is a research scholar who recently completed his master's degree in the Goyal Lab. Originally from South Korea, he earned his undergraduate degree in molecular biotechnology from a Belgian university with a campus in Korea, also spending time at its main campus in Belgium. His research interests include single-cell RNA sequencing, transcriptomics, and cell biology. His undergraduate thesis using single-cell RNA sequencing inspired him to pursue another thesis focused on single-cell research. Outside the lab, he enjoys traveling, cooking, swimming, and skiing.Research Scholars
Vivienne Nahrstedt (she/her)
Visiting Scholar | Bioinformatics
B.S. and M.S. Bioinformatics, Technical University of Munich/ Ludwigs-Maximilian-University, Munich
Vivienne Nahrstedt is a Research Assistant at Helmholtz Munich (Marr Lab) and a Visiting Scholar in the Goyal Lab. She recently completed her M.Sc. in Bioinformatics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), where she also earned her B.Sc. Her research focuses on computational biology and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Currently, Vivienne uses lineage-tracing scRNA-seq to study non-genetic inheritance across cell divisions, exploring how hidden cell memory shapes fate decisions in cells. Outside of lab, she enjoys reading, traveling and hiking.
Adit Kalsotra (he/him)
Research Technician
B.S. Philosophy and minor in Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Adit is a research technician who graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2026. Born in Houston, he moved to Champaign and earned his undergraduate degree in philosophy, largely focusing on artificial intelligence systems, which led him to a neuroscience lab. Data analysis and building a virtual reality system from scratch inspired him to continue doing research at the Goyal lab. He is passionate about harnessing machine learning to solve biological problems, transcriptomics, and homeostatic processes in cells. Outside the lab, he loves basketball, video games, eating good food, and traveling.Friends of the Lab
Ian Mellis (he/him)
Lab Friend + Collaborator (Faculty at Columbia)
M.D., Ph.D., Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania
B.A., Mathematics and Interdisciplinary, Amherst College
Ian is a research-track Clinical Pathology resident at Columbia, and he works with the Goyal lab as a collaborator and consultant. He is originally from the suburbs of NYC. He has a background in genetics, cellular reprogramming, applied math, and statistics, and is developing new areas of interest in postdoctoral work at Columbia. In addition to research and medicine, Ian enjoys cooking, learning languages, traveling, and bantering (often with Yogesh).
Personal Website
Danielle Pi (she/her)
MD/PhD Student | Northwestern University
B.A., English, Biology, University of Pennsylvania
Danielle is an MD/PhD trainee in the Arispe Lab who frequently crashes Goyal lab meetings and journal clubs. She is originally from the Bay Area and grew up in Shanghai, China. She currently works on organ growth and cell proliferation in the vascular system, but is always looking for new topics to tickle her brain. Outside of lab Danielle enjoys writing, traveling, and making bad jokes.Undergraduate/High School Students
Yuhan Zhang (she/her)
Undergraduate Student
B.A. Biological Sciences and Mathematics, Northwestern University
Hannah is an undergraduate student at Northwestern University originally from Beijing, China. She is passionate about exploring how mathematical models can deepen our understanding of complex biological systems. Outside of the lab, she enjoys practicing Taekwondo, reading Japanese detective fictions, translating literary works, and exploring matcha in all its forms.
Anoushka Rangan (she/her)
High School Student - IMSA
Anoushka is a senior at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy and a student researcher in the Goyal Lab. Her interests lie in oncology, particularly in understanding how cell proliferation is controlled and how disruptions in this process contribute to disease. Outside of research, she enjoys reading, traveling with her family, and spending time outdoors.
We are Hiring!
Our interdisciplinary and inclusive research program welcomes artists, biologists, chemists, clinicians, computer scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and physicists to come work with us! Please check the Contact page for current openings.
If you would like to know about Yogesh’s mentorship and first-hand experiences of his past mentees, Yogesh is happy to connect you with them (both undergraduate and graduate mentees). Please email Yogesh expressing interest in speaking with his current and past mentees.
Lab Alumni
Postdocs
Sayantan Dutta, PhD
Postdoc (2024)
Subsequent Position: Assistant Professor, IIT Bombay
Kalki Kukreja, PhD
Postdoc (2025)
Subsequent Position: APART-USA Postdoctoral Fellow, IMBA Vienna
Graduate Students
Jonas Braun
Masters Thesis (Mathematics), TU Munich (2023)
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, Princeton University
Tito Chai
Masters Thesis (Reproductive Science), Northwestern University (2024)
Subsequent Position: Embryologist, CNY fertility
Ida Büschel
Visiting Research Scholar (Jointly with Carsten Marr)(2024)
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, Munich School for Data Science, Helmholtz Munich
Pornchanan (Cherlyn) Pholraksa
Masters Thesis (Biotechnology), Northwestern University (2025), Research Scholar (2025-2026)
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, Northwestern University
Undergraduate
Julia Jiminez
Undergraduate (SynBio REU), Elmhurst University (2022)
Subsequent Position: Rotational Scientist, Genentech
Emilia Hojel
Undergraduate (2022-23)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, Northwestern University
Sharon Choi
Undergraduate (2022-24)
Subsequent Position: Medical Student, UTSW
Sofia White
Undergraduate (ACS SROP) (2023)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, Harvard University
Naima Akhter
Undergraduate (PGTP SROP), Hamilton College (2023)
Subsequent Position: Postbac, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Abdurrahman Waajid
Undergraduate (SynBio REU) (2023)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, University of Chicago
Linda Wang
Undergraduate (SynBio REU) (2024)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, University of Washington
Ryan Bui
Undergraduate (2023-24)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, Northwestern University
Alex Sorescu
High School Student (IMSA) (2024-25)
Subsequent Position: Undergraduate, University of Maryland
Rohan Sohini
Undergraduate (2023-26)
Subsequent Position: Fulbright Fellow, Germany
Research Staff
Syeda S Ahmed
Research Technician (2022-2025)
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, UIUC
Keerthana Arun
Research Technician (2022-2025)
Subsequent Position: PhD Student, UPenn