Neha Arun

I am a first year Microbiology PhD student in the lab of Dr. Walther Mothes where I study virus cell-to-cell transmission and Fc receptor signaling through live cell imaging approaches. I have a strong interest in virology and HIV-host interactions to help develop accessible solutions for the populations most impacted by these health crises. Outside of lab, I volunteer in STEM outreach organizations and serve as a mentor for students from underrepresented backgrounds. I also enjoy dancing as part of some teams on campus.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2023 from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology (MCB), where I was a Stamps Scholar. I was awarded Highest Distinction and Academic Distinction in MCB for my senior thesis on “Structural and biochemical mechanisms of HIV latency reactivation in monocytes, macrophages, and T-cells” in the laboratory of Dr. Collin Kieffer.