Sam Behar, Ph.D.

Principal Investigator

Evelyn is a graduate student in the Behar Lab pursuing a PhD in biomedical sciences. Her current project involves using mouse models to study the CD4+ T-cell response during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. More specifically, she’s interested in CD4+ T-cell exhaustion, and her project involves using flow cytometry and RNAseq to answer questions about the regulatory mechanisms mediating T-cell function (or dysfunction) during Tuberculosis, and how T-cell dysfunction may contribute to the development of disease.

Evelyn is originally from California, where she graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a BS in Chemistry and Biochemistry. In her free time, she likes to read crime novels/psychological thrillers, practice yoga, cook, and bake, and she finds joy in experimenting with new recipes.

Danny is a Ph.D student in Dr. Behar’s lab. His research mainly focuses on MHC class I antigen presentation during Mtb infection. We have found that CD8 T-cells inefficiently recognize Mtb – infected host cells, and Danny is working to understand the biology behind this phenomenon. He is currently investigating the role of different antigen presenting cell types, cell death, and antigen sources in CD8 T-cell control. Outside of the lab he is a big sci-fi nerd and cat dad. He enjoys to spend his downtime playing video games, watching TV, reading and spending time outdoors and camping.

Swati is a postdoc in Behar lab, working on the role of TCRs in the progression of TB granulomas. She is interested in antigen presentation by CD4 and CD8 TCRs isolated from the progressive and restrictive TB granulomas. During her PhD from CSIR-CDRI, India she has explored the role of PtkA in Mtb and its effect on the host. She moved to USA in 2019 and joined Yale School of Medicine as a postdoc working on IBD and subsequently moved to UMass Chan to pursue her interest in TB research. Swati received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biotechnology from T.M. Bhagalpur University, India. She has a keen interest in teaching and been involved in teaching Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and Microbiology for two years after her Postgraduation.

Apart from this she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and travelling.

Yu-Jung is a graduate student in the immunology and microbiology program in University of Massachusetts Medical school. In Behar lab, Yu-Jung is interested in understanding the role of CD8+ T cells in tuberculosis. Yu-Jung especially focuses on how CD4+ T cell, another subset of T cells, interacts with CD8+ T cell, and whether CD4 T cell provides help to improve the function of CD8 T cell.

Yu-Jung grew up in Taiwan. She got her bachelor’s degree from National Cheng Kung University and her master’s degree from National Taiwan University before she moving to the US and joining Behar lab. In National Taiwan University, Yu-Jung worked with Dr. Shi-Chuen Miaw, and studied post-translational modification in CD4+ T cell differentiation. This experience inspires her to learn more in the field of immunology. In her free time, Yu-Jung enjoys cooking and baking. 

Abiola Ogunsola, a native of Philadelphia, joined the Behar lab in September of 2020. She is a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh where she earned her BS in microbiology, with some sociology on the side. She has always been super interested in exploring host-pathogen interactions, and hopes to now embark on a journey delving deep into the world of immunology and gaining familiarity with the most recent bioinformatics tools. She is excited to have joined the group where she will work on a project focused on identifying genetic correlates of BCG-mediated protection of Tuberculosis infection. In her free time, Abiola enjoys baking, attending Zumba classes, and feeding blueberries to her beloved sun goddess (AKA bearded dragon), Dijon.

Tasfia Rakib joined the Behar Lab in 2019. She got her Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, India, after which she came to the United States and got her Master's from University of Texas at Dallas and then worked for a few years as a research associate. While she was working in Dr. Akiko Iwasaki's lab at Yale University, one of her projects involving influenza infection piqued her interest in studying immunobiology of respiratory diseases caused by infectious agents which inspired her to pursue her PhD in the Behar Lab investigating the complexities of the host immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in causing TB disease pathogenesis. Tasfia's project involves studying the role of infected alveolar (and interstitial) macrophages in allowing the development of an intracellular niche for M. tuberculosis replication and investigating the potential role of efferocytosis (the engulfment of apoptotic cells by phagocytes) in regulation of its pathogenesis. She has also recently ventured in looking at the role of neutrophils in antigen presentation and their consequences in disease outcome. She says that the best part of her being in the Behar lab is "getting to do the research that I am truly interested in a lab with an incredibly amazing mentor and cheerful and supportive lab environment - it's the perfect balance of all three that makes it so fulfilling for me!".

Preeti did her M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Jiwaji University, Gwalior. Following her Master’s degree, she pursued PhD in Biotechnology from Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research Centre at Translational Health Science and Technology institute, Faridabad, India. During her graduate training, she utilized proteomic and biochemical approaches to study Sec-independent mechanism of protein translocation in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Her current research interest is to deconvolute the molecular mechanism of inflammasome regulation pertaining to TB infection. Additionally, she focuses on mechanism of T cell immunity. In my free time, I love to spend time reading, sketching or ready to play outdoor games anytime!

Travis Williams joined the lab in December 2019.  He is a graduate of Worcester State University where he earned bachelor’s degrees in both mathematics and biotechnology. His work at the lab involves flow cytometry analysis of myeloid cells from the lungs of infected mice as part of the Collaborative Cross Project, as well as designing/optimizing antigen presentation assays for screening TCRs for cognate antigen as part of the ImpacTB contract.  Outside the lab, Travis runs an ultimate frisbee league, loves funk music and enjoys exploring nature with his partner and their two border Aussies.