Nelson Bighetti

Emily E. Ackerman

She/her · Harvard Medical School

Hello!! I'm a postdoctoral researcher with the Lahav Lab in the systems biology department at Harvard Medical School. My focus lies in developing computational methods to understand the role of p53 protein dynamics in determining cell fate. Previous work includes network and mathematical modeling of immunoregulation during influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infection.




I joined Galit Lahav’s lab as a postdoctoral researcher in the systems biology department at Harvard Medical School in September 2021. My research uses computational methods to understand the connection between single cell p53 protein dynamics and transcriptomic profiles in cell fate decisions.

My PhD work at the University of Pittsburgh’s chemical and petroleum engineering program can be divided into two computational areas that address both influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 infection: antiviral drug target identification using network biology and dynamic modeling of the immune response to viral infection. This work at both the cellular and systems level aimed to better understand the mechanisms driving observed immunoregulatory behavior to improve drug development.

As a queer, disabled woman in STEM, I am passionate about the advancement of underrepresented populations in STEM. I have had the opportunity to perform diversity and equity work in academia with Future of Research, the TAE Consortium, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as a Gilliam Fellow. I am also an active advocate in the disability community for equitable access to education and technology. In my free time, I enjoy painting and spending time with my cat, Poppy.