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"None of us is as smart as all of us." -Ken Blanchard
The Team
Ripla Arora
Associate Professor
My interests lie in understanding cellular and developmental mechanisms that underlie tissue morphogenesis and organ formation. My training is in biochemistry and developmental genetics. In order to better understand maternal-fetal interactions I developed a technique for imaging and analyzing organization of the uterine structure in 3D. Using this methodology we have observed dynamic changes in the structure of the mouse uterine lumen and glandular architecture as the window of receptivity approaches. In my laboratory we combine the strengths of classic developmental biology methods, mouse genetics, organ culture, 3D imaging, computational image analysis and gene expression analysis, to establish how hormones influence the uterine luminal and glandular epithelium to modulate receptivity and implantation. Other than science I am passionate about dancing and yoga.
Kaylie Chiles
DO-Phd student
RDSP T32 fellowship
I am a DO-PhD student at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. I graduated from Michigan State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Physiology and Genomics & Molecular Genetics and a minor in Spanish, then earned my Master’s degree in Microbiology from MSU. I am interested in developmental biology and plan to specialize in pediatrics. As a physician, I hope to conduct clinical research to investigate genetic causes of developmental disease, with a particular focus on congenital lung and heart conditions. In the Arora lab, I am evaluating the mechanism of Tbx4 and Tbx5 transcription factors in fetal mouse lung development and cell differentiation. Outside of the lab, I enjoy dancing ballet, traveling, and playing with my cats.
Lisa Zou
Graduate Student (Biomedical Engineering)
Engineering Graduate Fellowship, RDSP T32 fellowship
I am a PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering. I completed my undergraduate degree at Michigan State University with a major in Biosystems Engeering with a Biomedical concentration and a minor in Computer Science. My undergraduate coursework and research have inspired me to pursue an advanced degree in Biomedical Engineering. I am interested in the advancement of the application engineering principles and designs in medicine to develop methods to improve healthcare. In the Arora lab, I am interested in understanding uterine epithelial-stromal cell organization and cross-talk. I am developing methods for modeling the uterine environment within 3D scaffolding micro-environments. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing with my cat and reading.
Aishwarya Bhurke
Graduate Student (Genetics and Genome Sciences, BMS)
MSU Ob/Gyn Walstrom Fund
I am a PhD student in the Genetics and Genome Sciences Program. I completed my B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Savitribai Phule Pune University, India, and M.Sc. in Biomedical Genetics with specialization in Genetic Counseling from Vellore Institute of Technology, India. Before coming to MSU, I worked as a research assistant in the Clinical Research Laboratory at ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, India, where I studied the pregnancy outcomes in endometriosis patients and its correlation with autoimmune markers. As I progressed in women’s health research, I realized how medical practice can largely benefit from understanding of the underlying basic biology. This inspired me to pursue an advanced degree to study the biological interactions between the embryo and uterus during pregnancy. In Arora lab, I am interested in studying the structural and functional role of uterine glands in embryo survival, development, and implantation. In my free time, I enjoy dancing, making illustration art and watching Netflix.
Harini Raghu Kumar
Graduate Student (Genetics and Genome Sciences, BMS)
RDSP T32 Fellowship
I am a Ph.D. student enrolled in the Genetics and Genome Sciences Program. My educational background includes B.Tech in Biotechnology from St. Joseph's College of Engineering in India and M.Sc in Human Genetics from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, India. Before joining MSU, I worked as a Genome Analyst at MedGenome Labs, India, where I gained expertise in analyzing Next Generation Sequencing data from patient samples. In my role at MedGenome Labs, I utilized disease databases and computer prediction tools to identify Single Nucleotide Variations (SNVs) and Copy Number Variations (CNVs) in the genome. My work primarily focused on patient samples related to fetal medicine, neonatology, and reproductive biology. This experience allowed me to collaborate with geneticists and deepen my understanding of genetics in a clinical context. Currently, I am a member of the Arora Lab, where my research focuses on understanding how gene expression changes in the uterine luminal epithelium, smooth muscle and stroma modulate uterine 3D structure in normal and hyper-stimulated pregnancies. Apart from my academic pursuits, I enjoy traveling, going to gym, listening to music, and spending quality time with my family and friends.
Deaziah Ford
CHM Medical Student
I am a medical student at Michigan State College of Human Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree at Michigan State University with a major in Human Biology and a minor in Pharmacology and Toxicology. I am currently interested in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, specifically maternal-fetal medicine. I am excited to join the Arora lab to gain more knowledge in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology that will assist me in my role as a physician. I also hope that this experience will further my knowledge and skills in the process of conducting research.
Randal Burks
CMSE Masters Student
I am a Master's student in Data Science at Michigan State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Spelman College. My research journey began at Spelman, where I optimized the Thayer-Martin Medium for selective Neisseria cultivation and conducted antibiotic susceptibility testing. Using phylogenetic analysis and NCBI Tree Viewer, I distinguished resistance genes from housekeeping genes, providing key insights into the genetic mechanisms driving antibiotic resistance and influencing treatment efficacy. This experience strengthened my interest in reproductive health, which I now explore in the Arora Lab by studying the dynamic gene expression profiles in the uterine glands and how they contribute to uterine function during the cycle. Outside of academia, I enjoy traveling, staying active in the gym, and playing the saxophone.
Tanishka Shenoy
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student in Lyman Briggs College pursuing a major in Human Biology with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Innovation at MSU. After my undergraduate studies, I aim to attend medical school and become a physician in the OB-GYN department. I am passionate about female reproductive health and research and aspire to delve deeper into the intricate biological and functional roles of uterine glands in embryo development and implantation. Outside of research, on campus I am involved in my professional medical fraternity Delta Epsilon Mu, volunteer at Haven House and Sparrow, and involvement in CIUS and MSU SAAN. In my free time, I love to spend time with friends and family, workout, and watch new shows.
Mia Simone
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student in Lyman Briggs College majoring in Human Biology on the pre-med track and minoring in Music. I am also a student in the Honor College and College of Music. After my undergraduate education, I plan to attend medical school and pursue a career as a physician. I am very excited to learn more about Women's reproductive health with the Arora Lab and plan to specialize in OB/GYN practices in the future. At MSU, I am also a member of State of Fifths, a co-ed competitive a cappella group and a volunteer at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. My hobbies include singing, watching movies, baking and scrapbooking!
Curtis Chen
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at MSU majoring in Biochemistry. I am an aspiring physician and hope to attend medical school. I have a background in plant lipid transport, confocal microscopy, and optogenetics. The Arora lab interests me because of 3D modeling of the uterus and the research done using confocal microscopy. Outside of school, I enjoy traveling, hiking, and skiing. Some fun facts about me: I’m from Okemos, I work at McLaren, and I have a younger brother.
Ria Bramhane
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at Lyman Briggs College majoring in Human Biology. After completing my undergraduate education, my goal is to attend medical school and work in the OB-GYN department. I have always been fascinated with learning about women's health and raising any awareness surrounding inequalities women experience in the healthcare system. However, I have recently become intrigued by research, as it excites me to delve deeper into the intricate and functional roles of the uterus and learn more about embryo development. Outside of working within the Arora Lab, I am involved in clubs such as the co-ed competitive South Asian a capella team at Michigan State University as well as an active member in my co-ed fraternity, Delta Epsilon Mu. In my free time, I love to spend time with family and friends, as well as singing and playing the guitar.
Lipika Murali
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at Lyman Briggs College, majoring in Genomics and Molecular Genetics with a minor in Business. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend medical school to pursue a career as a physician. I am particularly passionate about women's health and am eager to expand my knowledge through research at The Arora Lab, especially in the areas of maternal and fetal development, and uterine function. Outside of the lab, I am actively involved in Humanity First MSU and volunteer at Sparrow Hospital. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, crocheting, and swimming.
Aryan Boruah
Masters student
I am a Masters student at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram. I am studying Biological Sciences with a specialization in Theoretical and Computational Biology. I am deeply fascinated by the dynamic and stochastic nature of developmental systems in living organisms. In the Arora lab I am particularly excited about using machine learning and modeling to tackle big questions in uterine developmental biology. Outside the lab, you’ll usually find me playing badminton, listening to music (no specific genre), or writing science blogs.
Riley Mackay (They/Them)
CHM Medical Student
I am a medical student at Michigan State College of Human Medicine working on my M.D. Degree. I did my undergraduate at Iowa State University in Biology with a focus on evolutionary biology and ecology and a minor in Chinese. I graduated in 2014. I am hoping to go into Obstetrics and Gynecology with a focus in gender-affirming medicine in those fields. Dr. Arora’s lab is a perfect intersection of my undergraduate studies and my goals as a future physician. I hope to deepen my knowledge of the physiology related to pregnancy as well as investigate evolutionary conserved modalities for this process. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, cooking, and babysitting people’s dogs. One of my favorite hobbies is “other people’s pets.”
Ashton Powell
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at MSU majoring in Human Biology and Minoring in Spanish. After my undergraduate education, I plan to pursue medicine. I love learning about women's health and was drawn to the Arora Lab due to their research on implantation and the architecture of the uterus. I love to spend time cooking, reading, backpacking, climbing, and doing yoga.
Neha Vizzeswarapu
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at Michigan State University pursuing a major in Chemical Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to pursue a career in pediatric medicine, aiming to integrate engineering, research, and medicine. In the Arora lab, I am particularly fascinated with the focus on successful implantation and health, including lung development for a fetus. My passion for pediatrics drives my interest in translating research findings to improved outcomes for both female reproductive health and the health of the fetus. Outside of academics, I enjoy traveling, listening to music, attending concerts, reading, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Diya Kanwar
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student on the pre-medical track at Michigan State University, pursuing dual majors in Human Biology through the Lyman Briggs College and Interdisciplinary Studies in Social Science through the College of Social Science, with a minor in Bioethics and Business. After completing my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend medical school to become a physician. I am passionate about women’s reproductive health and developmental biology, and I am excited to deepen my understanding of these areas through the Arora Lab. Outside of academics and research, I am a proud member of MSU Swara, as an Indian classical dancer specializing in Kathak. I am also an active member of a professional pre-medical fraternity, Phi Delta Epsilon, and serve as Vice President of both StudentsCare and the Honors College Mental Health Collaborative. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing tennis, listening to music, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Ava Freye
Undergraduate student
I am an undergraduate student at Michigan State University pursuing majors in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and in Nutritional Sciences through Lyman Briggs College as well as a minor in Spanish. After my undergraduate studies, I plan to attend medical school and become an OB-GYN. I am passionate about female reproductive health and am excited to dive deeper into the unknown underlying biochemical processes that contribute to maternal fertility and overall reproductive health in women. I hope to contribute to the further discoveries of the complex female reproductive system and carry enhanced knowledge and research skills into my practice as a future physician and scientist. Outside of academics, I enjoy playing soccer, reading, lifting, snowboarding, watching movies, and doing puzzles.
Ryan Yoder
Undergraduate student
I am a freshman undergraduate student at Michigan State University majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After my undergraduate studies I plan on continuing my education at medical school or through additional research. I am very interested in developmental biology and learning how to conduct research in a professional lab, as well as using advanced imaging technology to aid data analysis. Outside of the lab, I love spending time in nature. I like golfing, kayaking, fishing, and backpacking.
Rohit Mahesh
High School student
I am a sophomore at Salem High School. My research interests lie at the intersection of machine learning and computational biology, particularly in the field of genomic medicine. I really enjoy being part of Dr. Arora’s lab as it provides an amazing opportunity to learn about the role of uterine horn contractions in embryo movement. It also gives me a chance to experience how professional research truly operates. In my free time, I enjoy watching star wars movies and playing the violin
Lab Alumni
Lindsey Royer
Current position: Research Assistant, Nechiporuk Lab, Oregon Health State University
Anna Coronel
Current position: Prenatal Genetic Counselor
Jayani Balaji
Current position: Veterinary Student, Michigan State University
Diana Flores
Current position: Research Assistant, University of Michigan
Savannah Wright
Current position: Graduate Student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Sameed Khan
Current position: Medical Student, Case Western Reserve University
Manoj Madhavan
Current position: Research Scientist, Fount Bio, Cambridge, MA
Maddie Dawson
Current position: Graduate Student, University of Michigan
Annual Society for Developmental Biology Meeting June 2025
Tbx4Life International Conference March 2025
Girl Math and Science Day March 2025
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Thesis Defense (Noura Massri)
Holiday Party 2024-25
Dinner with Prof. Diana Laird - Nov 2024
MARTS Nov 2024
Lunch with Prof. Yong Wang - Nov 2024
Lunch with Prof. Shuo Xiao - March 2024
Solar Eclipse - April 2024
Lab party May 2024
Science Day April 2024
Holiday Party (December 2023)
Annual Society for Developmental Biology Meeting - Chicago
July 2023
Girl Math and Science Day May 2023
Tenure celebration
July 2023
Grandparents University - June 2023
Arora Lab first student (Manoj Madhavan) graduation - (May 2023)
Thesis Defense - (April 2023)
Holiday Party (December 2022)
Lab Photo (October 2022)
Pictionary (October 2022)
We love Sushi!!! (December 2022)
RDSP Annual Day 2022
Poured Paint Workshop April 2022
Lab Meeting 2021
Lab photo 2021
Quarantine Diaries 2020
Chilli Chicken
Graduating Seniors 2020
Game night 2020
Kebabs
Never miss lab meeting!! June 2019
Girl Math and Science Day, March 2019
MSU SciComm, April 2019
Lab Photo 2019
Paint Night July 2018
Christmas Party Game Night 2018
April 2018
Learning Baboon Endometrial Anatomy with Prof. Asgi Fasleabas
Christmas lunch 2017
IQ holiday party 2017
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