Current Lab Members

Dr. Matheus S. Bastos (Research Teaching Specialist II) obtained his Ph.D. in Agricultural Biochemistry, with a focus on biochemistry and molecular biology, from the Federal University of Viçosa, where he developed a passion for parasite biology and understanding how parasites interact with and impact host cells. 

He joined the Bhanot Lab at NJMS, where he currently investigates the role of ER-shaping proteins in Plasmodium falciparum development using genome engineering, microscopy, and quantitative cell biology approaches. 

Hanna Dhiyebi is a Ph.D. candidate in the Bhanot Lab at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where she studies how phosphorylation regulates proteasome function in Plasmodium falciparum. She received her bachelor's degree in biotechnology from California State University San Marcos and later worked in the Evans Lab at the Salk Institute studying vitamin D receptor signaling in pancreatic cancer. Outside the lab, Hanna enjoys curating playlists and discovering new music. 

Dr. Shiny Joy received her doctoral degree from Kuvempu University, Karnataka, India. She is currently engaged in research on the cellular and molecular biology of Plasmodium falciparum, with a particular focus on endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-shaping proteins. 

After completing his doctoral training at Middle Tennessee State University, Desta Kidane joined the Bhanot Lab as a postdoctoral associate in January 2025. His research focuses on Plasmodium parasite biology and host-parasite interactions. In particular, Desta investigates how Plasmodium parasites establish infection within hepatocytes and the molecular mechanisms that support their growth, development and transition from the liver to the blood stage. Outside the lab, Desta enjoys reading sci-fi books and playing chess.

Dr. Jiapeng Liu (Research Teaching Specialist II) obtained his Ph.D in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech in 2023. He is studying the functions of endoplasmic reticulum-shaping proteins in Bhanot lab. He likes anime and traveling. As of 2026, he has visited 32 U.S. states and plans to visit all 50 by the end of 2027.  

Anusha Thaniana (Research Teaching Specialist V) graduated from Wellesley College. After her undergraduate, she joined the Bhanot Lab in 2024. She is currently working on projects related to Plasmodium liver stage including drug testing of our compounds and the role of type III IFNs in the Plasmodium liver stage. In her free time, she likes to watch korean dramas and solve puzzles.