Lab Members
Alok Joglekar, PhD
PI, Assistant Professor
I completed my M.Sc. in Biotechnology from the Institute for Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, University of Pune in 2008. I then moved to sunny California for his Ph.D. at University of California, Los Angeles, where I worked on gene therapy using hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells in Dr. Donald B. Kohn's lab. After completing my Ph.D. in 2013, I moved across town to California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for a postdoc in Dr. David Baltimore's lab. At Caltech, I developed SABRs, which served as a foundation for the lab. After a cross-country drive, the Joglekar Lab at the University of Pittsburgh was officially born in August 2019.
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My scientific interests include combining wet-lab and dry-lab systems approaches to understand T cell responses in various disease contexts and developing new synthetic immunology tools to engineer immune responses. I love leading the lab because I can let his scientific ideas run free, can discuss science all day long, and enjoy mentoring trainees.
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In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, taking long walks with his wife and dog, hiking, and listening to music. I always wear mismatched socks, because matching socks is a total waste of time.
Team
Sanya Arshad, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher,
joined April 2022
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I completed my PhD in India and moved to the United States in 2018, and I worked as a research assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital before pursuing advanced research training. My background spans biotechnology and pathology, and my research focuses on immunology, integrating mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidome profiling with computational analyses to dissect complex biological systems.
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My current research focuses on defining the MHC class I and II immunopeptidome in autoimmune disease, particularly SLE. I use mass spectrometry based immunopeptidomics, single-cell RNA-seq, and TCR repertoire analysis to identify pathogenic antigens, including post-translationally modified peptides. A major goal of my work is to integrate findings from lupus mouse models with human patient samples to uncover conserved antigenic mechanisms with translational relevance.
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I love the moment when messy, complex data finally make sense, especially when an unbiased approach uncovers something no one thought to look for. I’m most excited by science that lets us see what’s really happening in biology, instead of what we expect or hope to find.
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My goal is to build an independent research program that combines immunology and computational analysis to identify clinically actionable antigens and develop antigen-based diagnostics and therapies for autoimmune diseases.
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Outside the lab, I love cooking and baking, especially tackling overly ambitious recipes that require far too many steps. I find strong parallels between troubleshooting experiments and perfecting a dish: both demand patience, iteration, and the acceptance that things don’t always turn out as planned (but are usually still worth it). I’m also training my 4 year old son to be my sous chef, which adds an extra layer of fun and occasional chaos to the kitchen.
David Gao
MSTP Student,
joined October 2022
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I completed my B.S. in Molecular Biology at the University of Pittsburgh in 2021. For over three years, I developed alarmin cytokines as novel cancer immunotherapies in the lab of Binfeng Lu, PhD. Through my involvement in the Center for Systems Immunology, I then joined Dr. Joglekar's lab to expand on his studies of T cell repertoires and antigen specificity. In 2025, I joined the lab as an MD/PhD (MSTP) student.
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My scientific interests are in examining the molecular programming of T cell responses that regulate the physiology of tissues and engineering genetic circuits for therapy through combining wet and dry lab systems approaches. In the lab, I am working on the factors that modulate regulatory T cell function using both reductionist and genome-wide approaches. I love my work because of the high level of creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork, and how I can catalyze the translation of new discoveries to improve the treatment of patients.
In my spare time, I am an avid basketball player, follows teams and players around the world, and examines strategies employed by different teams. I also enjoy exploring global cuisines by trying out the fantastic restaurants in Pittsburgh and cooking.
I have lived in San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh.
Mary Melissa Roland, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher,
joined July 2023
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I attended Mercer University (Go Bears!) and graduated in 2018 with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While I Mercer, I fell in love with research and being in a lab. After graduation, I began my graduate studies at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine (Go Cocks!). I completed my PhD in Biomedical Sciences in Spring of 2023 after successfully defending my dissertation entitled “B Cell Specific MHCII Promotes Host Microbiome Symbiosis.” Afterwards, I moved to Pittsburgh in May of 2023 and started in the Joglekar lab in June.
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My project focuses on determining whether or not tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in solid cancers are formed via interactions between tumor-antigen specific Tfh cells and tumor reactive B cells are critical for TLS formation, and if these interactions lead better tumor control. The completion of my project will lead to a greater understanding of the T-B interactions that fuel TLS formation, allowing the future development of antigen-specific therapies that enhance tumor clearance.
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​My favorite thing about science is that it is constantly evolving. It forces you to continuously learn and challenge yourself in new ways.
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My goal is to have my own lab where I develop a research program focusing on manipulating immune cells, especially B cells, to create a pipeline for personalized immune engineering to combat cancer, while cultivating new diagnostic tools to monitor and quantify antigen-specific immune responses.
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Fun fact: Former President Jimmy Carter wrote me a recommendation letter for college.
Xuerui Wang
Ph.D. Student,
joined February 2026
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I began my research training at the University of Minnesota as an undergraduate, studying muscle stem cell regeneration in Dr. Atsushi Asakura's lab. I later earned my Master's at Johns Hopkins University in 2023, where I investigated mechanical cues of cells in Dr. Douglas Robinson's lab while developing my computational skills. Following an R&D internship at Boehringer Ingelheim, I joined Dr. Jing Li's lab at Hillman Cancer Center, where I built my foundation in immunology. I then began my PhD in 2026 in Dr. Alok Joglekar's lab and Dr. Dario Vignali's lab to integrate my interests in immunology and computational biology.
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I leverage high-throughput screening platforms to connect tumor antigen targets and TCR recognition to downstream T cell states. I am currently investigating how immune checkpoint blockade reshapes the TCR repertoire and functional programs in cancer. I hope to identify principles for rationally manipulating antigen-specific responses to improve the durability and efficacy of immunotherapy.
I love the moments when concepts from across disciplines- from wet lab biology to computational modeling to clinical insight- connect like a lattice of theory. There is a unique satisfaction in turning scattered results into a coherent, mechanistic story.
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My long-term goal is to conduct impactful science that I love, translating bold ideas into outcomes that improve human health.
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A fun fact about me: I have a personal interest in Traditional Chinese Medicine and use acupressure or moxibustion to treat minor health issues for myself and my friends.
Luba Kublo
Research Technician,
joined November 2021
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I completed my BS and MD from Chernivtsi (West Ukraine) Medical University. I then moved to Kiev (capital city of Ukraine) to go into residency and cardiology specialization. I was a cardiologist at Kiev district hospital for 12 years and served as a member of Chernobyl disaster committee. I joined the University of Pittsburgh in April 2002 as a Lab Technician and has worked on different projects in oncology at the Hillman Cancer Institute. In 2021, I joined the Joglekar lab as a research technician.
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I am interested in the science of T cell antigen discovery and T cell engineering. I love supporting the lab members in all their experiments and help the lab run. I am excited to learn new methods and tools in immunology and to work together with a big team.
When I have fetterless time on her hand, I like to swim, to read about everything, to cook, and spend time with my granddaughter Lyana. I am always is a subject of jokes from my son and daughter-in law because of my English: "Where did you get a meet? Like always, Giant Eagle (meat)"
Jennifer Bone
Data Analyst,
joined February 2024
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I am a machine learning scientist with a passion for immunology. I completed my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley in physics and molecular cell biology with a desire to develop quantitative tools to study biology. I then moved to Pittsburgh where I earned my MS and PhD in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in machine learning from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021. I led TCR informatics in the development of a T cell cancer immunotherapy for solid tumors at Nurix Therapeutics from 2021-2024 before coming to the University of Pittsburgh where I aim to develop predictive models that better understand how the immune system dysregulates in autoimmune disorders.
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My current work focuses on leveraging the language of immune repertoires to understand T cell behavior in T1DM, acute pancreatitis, and other autoimmune diseases. I am specifically interested in how clonal structure, sharing, and phenotypic features change across disease progression. I build generalizable models that interrogate high-dimensional data and ask how immune system “rules” change in disease states.
I chase the moments when messy, overwhelming data suddenly reveal patterns that explain something real about biology. The problems I enjoy the most are ones in which I can balance intuition and domain knowledge with new computational insight.
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My long-term goal is to lead research programs – either in academia or in industry – that advance fundamental understanding of immune-mediated disease and inform therapeutic development. I am especially interested in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments where computational and experimental approaches are tightly coupled.
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I raced on the Carnegie Mellon University’s SDC Women’s A Buggy team in 2018; our team won first place, and the buggy we raced still holds the speed record for that vehicle.
Kenny Feng
Undergraduate Student,
joined September 2024
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I am currently a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, where I am a Biological Sciences major with minors in Chemistry and Spanish. I had little to no knowledge about immunology when I first joined the lab, but since then, I have learned a lot. For this reason, I always am willing to accept any new challenges in the lab because it means that I will learn something new.
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My project involves testing the different B-cell SABR constructs made by the lab in order to identify which SABRs have the most T-cell activation. It is closely related to Mary’s project since she is my mentor, and the results of my project will hopefully help her experiments with TLSs. In my spare time, I also help with Mary’s project, which focuses on determining whether tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in solid cancers are formed via interactions between tumor-antigen specific Tfh cells and tumor reactive B cells are critical for TLS formation, and if these interactions lead better tumor control.
My favourite thing about science is that we gain more knowledge about the world, and we can apply this knowledge to improve our quality of life.
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I hope to pursue a career in medicine, and I certain that my experience in this lab has deeply influenced the type of physician I will become.
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I am trilingual
Bailey Chalmers
Ph.D. Student
joined April 2023
I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology at Mercer University. After graduating, I joined a research team at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense where I spent two years studying potential therapeutic targets for ocular injuries induced by chemical warfare agents. In 2023, I started my PhD at the University of Pittsburgh’s Program in Microbiology and Immunology and joined Dr. Alok Joglekar’s lab, where I am currently a grad student.
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I study the aberrant T cell responses in autoimmunity and seek to design new strategies to control them. My primary project focuses on engineering a cellular therapy for Type 1 Diabetes, a chronic T cell-mediated autoimmune disease. More specifically, I leverage the suppressive nature of regulatory T cells and engineer them to confer antigen-specific targeting of pathogenic autoreactive T cells.
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My favorite thing about science is its ability to enrich both the lives of those who study it and patients who currently lack adequate therapeutic options. As a scientist, I get to indulge my curiosity every day, continually learn, and apply that knowledge towards developing new strategies to help others!
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My goal is to become a principal investigator who can mentor young scientists and work on cutting-edge translational research.
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I am an adventurous animal lover, which ultimately led me to complete a three-month internship caring for exotic cats. During my time at Carol Baskin’s sanctuary, I cleaned enclosures, fed the cats, provided enrichment, performed operant conditioning, assisted with veterinary procedures, and—of course —became close friends with many lions, tigers, African servals, bobcats, panthers, caracals, and jaguars!
Salome Martinez
Undergraduate Research Assistant,
joined June 2021
Salome is currently in her senior year of high school at Franklin Regional High School where she will graduate in the spring of 2022.
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Salome's scientific interests focus on medical concepts such as immunology and oncology. In the lab, she does research on the interactions between CD8s, melanoma, and pathogens. She loves what she does because it gives her a chance to pursue scientific learning in a non-classroom setting and it gives her a chance to do hands-on wet-lab work in order to recover answers.
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In her spare time, Salome likes to listen to true crime and current events podcasts, listen to music, and paint. She only speaks Spanish at home despite every member being fluent in English — a rule set by her parents to retain the ability.
Nishtha Trivedi
PhD Student
joined March 2023
I completed my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in India. I began my academic journey in immunology in the Joglekar lab in 2022 as a Research Technician, where I developed technical and analytical research skills. Later in 2024, I resigned and rejoined the lab as a graduate student to pursue a PhD degree.
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As a graduate student, my primary work focuses on how small proteins known as microproteins, encoded by non-canonical regions of the genome, regulate immune signaling and contribute to autoimmunity.
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My favorite thing about science is that every question is a mystery, the data provides evidence, and you are a detective! You can present evidence for your assumptions, and results speak for themselves!
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My goal is to earn my doctorate and establish myself as a well-rounded, impactful researcher.
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I was literally solving mysteries – (lifting fingerprints, analyzing evidence from crime scenes!!!) before beginning my career in immunological research.
Benjamin Cameron
PhD Student,
joined April 2023
I completed undergraduate in Biochemistry at Penn State University in 2018, where I gained my first research experience studying metalloenzyme superfamilies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I pursued a master’s degree in Immunology at Imperial College London, investigating the role of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in T helper cell differentiation. I then continued his immunological training at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research in Philadelphia, where I studied how metabolic adjuvants influence vaccine-induced T cell responses in mice. In 2023, I joined the University of Pittsburgh to pursue a PhD in Immunology in the Joglekar Lab.
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I study the antigens that T cells recognize and respond to in disease, with a focus on autoimmunity and cancer. I am particularly interested in post-translationally modified antigens, an understudied class of targets for which robust high-throughput interrogation methods are lacking. A major component of my work involves developing a novel experimental platform to systematically assay T cell responses to post-translationally modified antigens. Through this work, I aim to identify novel antigenic targets and their cognate T cell receptors that could ultimately be leveraged for immunotherapeutic applications.
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My favorite thing about science – and what first drew me to immunology – is conceptualizing how the many components of biological systems interact to produce emergent properties.
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My future goal is to work in immunotherapy research and development, where I aim to lead impactful, clinically oriented projects.
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A fun fact about me is that I swam with sharks in the Galápagos islands.
Lab Alumni