Our Team
Jay Vyas, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Associate Dean for Academic Innovation, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Director of Physician Scientist Programs, Vagelos Institute of Biomedical Research Education
Professor of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
Associate Member, Broad Institute
Jay was born in Montreal, Canada and raised in Houston, TX. He completed his BA from the University of Texas Austin. In the Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program, he completed his MD and PhD in Immunology where he focused on mechanisms leveraged by the immune system to detect pathogens. He then went on to complete his medical training as an intern and resident in the MGH internal medicine program and fellow in the joint MGH/BWH Infectious Diseases fellowship program. Jay continued his scientific pursuits as a research fellow in the lab of Dr. Hidde Ploegh focusing on the role of dendritic cells in the immune response at Harvard Medical School and the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. He started his own lab in 2008 when he employed advanced microscopy to visualize dynamic subcellular changes upon phagocytosis by macrophages and dendritic cells. In addition to his lab, Jay was the tenth Program Director of the MGH Department of Medicine Residency Program from 2014-2023. In 2024, Jay transitioned to Columbia University to serve as the Associate Dean for Academic Innovation and Director of Physician Scientist Programs. As a physician-scientist, Jay truly believes that outstanding clinical care is fueled by basic discovery, and the greatest opportunities to improve patient care come from high-quality research. When he’s not busy in lab, Jay can be found enjoying walks, spending time with family, and traveling!
Email: jvyas@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @jmvyasmdphd
Hannah Brown Harding, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Hannah grew up in Ohio and is one of the biggest Buckeye fans you will ever meet. She completed her BS in Biology at Denison University and was introduced to basic science research in the lab of Dr. Eric Liebl where she studied the developmental genetics of Drosophila melanogaster. Immediately after Denison, Hannah began a PhD program in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at Duke University. During her time at Duke, Hannah became a #cryptochick when she joined the lab of Dr. Andrew Alspaugh studying the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans and the ability for this microorganism to adapt to the human host. After graduation, in the middle of the pandemic, Hannah moved to Boston and accepted a postdoc position in the Vyas lab. Currently, Hannah’s work is centered around the innate immune response to pathogenic fungi, including Candida albicans, C. neoformans, and C. auris. Outside of her scientific pursuits, Hannah enjoys yoga, happy hours, and of course, her sweet puppy Stevie (pictured).
Email: hbrown15@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @HannahEBrown3
Kyle Basham
Research Technician
Kyle was born and raised in sunny Southern California and completed his BS in Biomedical Sciences at California Baptist University. During his experience as an undergrad, Kyle became interested in research after conducting experiments under the supervision of his professors. In the Vyas lab, Kyle works closely with post-doctoral fellow Dr. Diego Vargas studying the body’s innate immune response against Aspergillus fumigatus. When he is not hitting the books or conducting experiments, Kyle enjoys spending time with his friends and family. Some of his favorite activities include going out to eat, exploring new places, and learning to cook. In the future, Kyle wants to pursue medicine clinically and become a Physician Assistant.
Email: kbasham@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @_KyleJBasham_
Olivia Hepworth, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Olivia grew up in England, UK and completed her BSc in Medical Science at Oxford Brookes University in Oxford. Her enthusiasm for Immunology began in her undergraduate research project at Churchill Hospital where she worked on developing a diagnostic assay for Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome. This led her to study an MSc in Immunology at King’s College London during which she was introduced to the world of fungi, while studying host immune responses to Candida albicans with Dr. David Moyes. Olivia began her PhD in structural biology/biochemistry at King’s College London working under the supervision of Dr. Antoni Borysik and Prof. Julian Naglik. During this time, she investigated the molecular mechanism of the novel fungal cytolytic peptide toxin, candidalysin, to understand the membrane interactions and events that contribute to the pathogenesis of invasive Candida albicans infections. She continued her PhD research in the Naglik laboratory for 6-months, before moving to Boston to begin her post-doc position in the Vyas laboratory. Outside of the lab, Olivia loves music festivals, cycling, baking, and travelling the world.
Email: ohepworth@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @OWMHepworth
Geneva Kwaku
Research Technician
Geneva has lived in Massachusetts, Hawaii, and New Hampshire and is a graduate of Dartmouth College where she earned her BA in Biology (Human Biology concentration) and Anthropology of Global Health. With strong interests in immunology and infectious diseases, Geneva works closely with Dr. Hannah Brown Harding in investigations into the innate immune response to Candida albicans. Beyond the lab, Geneva enjoys any time spent outdoors, taking care of her bunny, and traveling with friends and family.
Email: gkwaku@mgh.harvard.edu
Kirstine Nolling Jensen, PhD
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Kirstine grew up in Denmark and completed her BSc and MSc in Biomedicine at the University of Southern Denmark. Her passion for immunology began in the Owens lab, characterizing the role of microglia in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. During her graduate studies, she relocated to Iceland to investigate the role of natural killer cells and neutrophils in the resolution of inflammation under the mentorship of Jona Freysdottir and Ingibjorg Hardardottir. Aside from her graduate studies, Kirstine kept herself busy being the president of the student union of the Biomedical Center at the University of Iceland, became an admin member of the flow cytometry core, and assisted the immune phenotyping of patient samples during the pandemic. Currently, she works in the Vyas lab as a postdoc studying the innate response in human airway epithelium to fungal melanin during infections. Outside of the lab, Kirstine spends her time with her daughter and husband baking, cooking, or exploring kid-friendly activities and hikes in the Boston area.
Email: kjensen7@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @nolling91
Patricia Simaku
Research Technician
A local to the area, Patricia graduated from Boston University in 2023 with a BA in Biology with a concentration in cellular and molecular biology & genetics. Patricia started her time at MGH as an animal research technician during the summer of 2021, where she then found an interest in the Vyas Lab and their studies in infectious diseases. As an undergraduate at BU, she worked closely with Dr. Diego Vargas Blanco on his work with Aspergillus fumigatus and the innate immune response against it. Patricia hopes to continue her passion for biology through post-graduate research and expand her knowledge on biological systems and immune responses. Outside of the lab, Patricia loves baking, going on long walks, spending time with her two cats, and appreciating art.
Email: psimaku@mgh.harvard.edu
Tammy Vyas
Lab Manager
Tammy, an air force brat, has lived in many locations around the US while growing up but finally settled in Austin, Texas during middle school and stayed through college. She went to the University of Texas, GO LONGHORNS! and received a BS in Elementary Education. She taught 1st and 2nd grade before having 2 boys of her own. She became the lab manager in Jay’s lab when it opened in 2008 and it consisted of only 1 lab technician. The lab has grown and changed over the years as technicians went off to medical school, graduate school, and dental school. Many in the lab call her Lab Mom, TamTamz, but ultimately Tammy. Her goal is to help scientists stay organized and help them have fun while being nerdy! She loves to get dirt under her nails in the garden, snuggle with a good book while lounging with her golden retriever, get a good sweat in while spinning, and traveling with her family.
Email: tvyas@mgh.harvard.edu
Becca Ward, PhD
Science Writer
Becca grew up in Maine and completed her BS in Biology with a minor in psychology and concentration in neuroscience at Roanoke College in Salem, VA. While at Roanoke, her passion for research began in the lab of Dr. Leonard Pysh, studying the impact of cellulose deficiency on Arabidopsis thaliana. She next completed her PhD in Neuroscience, investigating the contribution of diabetes to cognitive impairment following ischemic stroke under the guidance of Dr. Adviye Ergul at Augusta University in Augusta, GA. Upon graduation, she joined the Vyas lab as a science writer, where she assists in writing and editing grants, manuscripts, protocols, and presentations. Additionally, she serves as the Program Manager for two NIH-funded research programs for medical residents: the MGH Next-Gen PSTP and MGH Next-Gen StARR. She leads the MGH Scientific Writing Group and provides writing support through the MGH Center for Faculty Development. Outside the lab, Becca enjoys cuddling with her cats, Hazelnut (pictured) and Noir, curling up with a good book, playing guitar, and kayaking.
Email: raward@mgh.harvard.edu
Twitter: @Becca_Ward8
Lab Alumni
Natalie Alexander | research technician (2017-2018) | Current position: PhD student at Rockefeller University
Shoilee Banerjee | undergraduate student (2018-2019) | Current position: Student at Amherst College
Michael Cardenas, MD | research technician (2008-2009) | Current position: Radiation Oncologist at Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital
Ari Crossen | research technician (2019-2023) | Current position: Graduate Student at the University of Colorado
Pete Davids | research technician (2010) | Current position: Software Engineer at Layer Health
Rich Dutko, MS | research technician (2018-2019) | Current position: Senior Research Associate at Generate Biomedicines
Michael Feldman, MD, PhD | postdoctoral fellow (2017-2019) | Current position: Senior Medical Director in Clinical Development at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Marianela Feliu, MD, MS | Master’s student (2014-2017) | Current position: Emergency Medicine Resident at the Ohio State University College of Medicine
Jane Jeffery, MD, MPH | research technician (2018-2019) | Current position: Internal Medicine Resident at Mount Sinai
Pia Kasperkovitz, PhD | postdoctoral fellow (2009-2011) | Current position: Senior Director of Toxicology at Bright Peak Therapeutics
Nida Khan, PhD | research technician (2010-2013), graduate student (2013-2018), postdoctoral fellow (2018-2020) | Current position: Senior Scientist in Immunology ADC at AbbVie Inc
Sunnie Kuna, DMD | research technician (2011-2013) | Current position: Orthodontics Resident at Harvard School of Dental Medicine
Allison (Timmons) Lord, PhD | Scientific Writer (2016-2018) | Current position: Associate Director, Medical Writing Science at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Dan Lukason, MS | research technician (2015-2017) | Current position: PhD Candidate at Tufts University
Michael Mansour, MD, PhD | postdoctoral fellow (2011-2015) | Current position: Associate Professor at MGH and HMS
Paige Negoro, MD | research technician (2019) | Current position: Pediatrics Resident at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Jess Pacia | research technician (2019-2020) | Current position: Research Assistant at Brown University
Srav Puranam, MD, MSc | undergraduate student (2009-2010) | Current position: Pediatric Anesthesia Resident at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford
Chris Reardon | research technician (2022-2023) | Current position: Research Associate II at Ring Therapeutics
Jennifer Reedy, MD, PhD | Research Fellow/Assistant in Medicine (2011-2023) | Current position: Clinical Development Associate Medical Director - Translational Medicine at Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Michael Seward, MD | undergraduate student (2014-2017) | Current position: Orthopedic Surgery Resident at Mayo Clinic
Jenny M. Tam, PhD | postdoctoral fellow (2010-2017) | Current position: Instructor in Genetics at HMS and Director of the Synthetic Biology Team at Wyss Institute
Diego Vargas-Blanco, PhD | postdoctoral fellow (2021-2023) | Current position: Scientist I at Orbital Therapeutics