The people behind the science.

Vishal Singh is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Akkaya Lab. His current research focuses on regulatory T cells and their role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including LAG-3-mediated interactions between regulatory T cells and antigen-presenting cells and antigen-specific immune regulation in experimental cerebral malaria. He also contributes to AI-guided antigen discovery, integrating computational predictions with experimental validation to investigate T-cell receptor specificity in cancer and type 1 diabetes. Vishal earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Panjab University in 2021, with doctoral work in nanotherapeutics and metabolic disease, and later pursued research in nanomedicine and point-of-care biosensing. His long-term goal is to combine immunology and nanomaterials to develop targeted therapies for disease-associated immune dysfunction.

A Columbus, Ohio native, Alec earned his B.S. from The Ohio State University in 2024 with majors in Biochemistry, Molecular Genetics, and Biology. As an undergraduate, he completed an internship with the Department of Biomedical Informatics analyzing bone marrow-derived multi-omics data to investigate hematopoiesis. He joined the Akkaya Lab as a Research Technician, where his work focuses on the mechanisms underlying regulatory T-cell suppressive function and their potential applications as immunotherapies. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. and continue investigating regulatory T cells in multiple sclerosis and other immune-mediated diseases. Outside the lab, Alec enjoys spending time with friends and restoring vintage furniture.

Tony is from Northern Virginia and earned his B.S. in Neuroscience from George Mason University in 2022, where he received the Neuroscience Faculty Choice Award and Outstanding Neuroscience Senior Award. His undergraduate research included zebrafish neurodevelopment and traumatic brain injury. He then spent more than two years at the NIH/NIA studying CD8+ T cells in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. Tony is now a Ph.D. student in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at The Ohio State University. In the Akkaya Lab, he studies how PI3K signaling regulates regulatory T-cell function and immune tolerance at steady state and under neuroinflammatory conditions. Outside research, he has a background in studio arts, serves as a senior editor for Knowing Neurons, and enjoys cooking and morning runs.

Ece is a pediatrician originally trained in Turkey and currently works as a Research Technician. Her research focuses on B-cell metabolism, including the use of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cell lines to investigate metabolic pathways and cellular responses under different experimental conditions. Outside the bench, she enjoys yoga, hiking, traveling, and an ongoing search for the best matcha in Columbus – a research project with no expected completion date.

Remy is a graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology program at The Ohio State University. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Remy earned a B.S. in Biological Science and an M.A.T. in Secondary Science Education from Duquesne University. Remy’s research focuses on the B-cell metabolic clock and how cellular metabolism influences B-cell fate and function, with applications to chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and abnormal B-cell survival.

Meryem is originally from Izmir, Türkiye, and is a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program at The Ohio State University, specializing in Immunology. She earned her B.S. in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Gebze Technical University, graduating among the university’s top students. In the Akkaya Lab, she studies obesity-associated changes in B-cell function using human and mouse systems, with a focus on how B-cell-intrinsic signaling links metabolic cues to immune responses and tolerance. Outside the lab, she enjoys art performances, cooking, and spending time with friends.

Jen is a second-year master’s student in the Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis program at The Ohio State University, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in Biology. In Munir Akkaya’s lab, she uses Lyn knockout and PI3Kδ mouse models to study their roles in B-cell receptor signaling. Outside the lab, she enjoys trying new restaurants and cafés with friends and traveling.

Declan is a second-year student majoring in Biology. Outside academics, he enjoys playing sports, reading, and watching new movies. He hopes to attend medical school and eventually work in the operating room.

Kate is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biology on the pre-med track with a minor in Psychology. Outside academics, she enjoys volunteering, swimming, and spending time with friends. She plans to pursue a career in Pediatrics or Family Medicine.

Harkirat is from Dublin, Ohio, and is a sophomore majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences on the pre-med track. She is a research assistant on the T-cell side of the Akkaya Lab. Outside the lab, she enjoys cooking, reading, volunteering, and getting involved in campus activities.

Niko is a third-year undergraduate student at The Ohio State University from the Atlantic City, New Jersey area. He is pursuing a B.S. in Applied Mathematics in Chemistry with a minor in Human Anatomy and is on the pre-medical track. Outside academics, he enjoys spending time with friends, reading, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Claire is a third-year undergraduate student majoring in Biomedical Science on the pre-med track. Outside school, she enjoys running, playing pickleball, exploring new coffee shops in Columbus, and supporting the Buckeyes at football games. She plans to pursue a career in orthopedic surgery or emergency medicine.

Samantha is a fourth-year honors undergraduate student studying Health Sciences on the pre-med track. Outside research, she is a manager at Ohio State’s Recreational and Physical Activity Center, Vice President of the Ohio State CHAARG chapter, a working phlebotomist, and a founding member of the Ohio State branch of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She hopes to pursue a career in cardiology or interventional radiology after medical school.

Sushant is a second-year Biology major. Outside academics, he enjoys hiking and playing sports with friends. He plans to attend medical school and become a physician.

Daniel is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying Molecular Genetics and is from Columbus, Ohio. He is interested in immunology research and plans to attend medical school in the future.

Ryu earned a B.S. in Biology from The Ohio State University and continues to work on the B-cell side of the Akkaya Lab as a volunteer researcher. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Ryu plans to attend medical school. Outside the lab, he enjoys playing the violin, reading, and traveling.

Will is a senior majoring in Microbiology at The Ohio State University and is from Worthington, Ohio. He enjoys learning about and researching cellular processes such as gene expression and protein synthesis.