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MEET OUR TEAM

Miqdad Dhariwala, M.Sc., Ph.D.

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity at The Ohio State University. I earned my Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Missouri, where I investigated host–pathogen interactions at barrier surfaces and their role in disease pathogenesis. I then completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where I established a research program focused on how commensal microbes instruct the development of the neonatal myeloid immune compartment in barrier tissues, including the skin and lung. This work revealed how early-life host–microbe interactions shape long-term immune homeostasis and influence susceptibility to adult-onset inflammatory disease. My research program seeks to define how commensal microbes shape human health and to leverage these insights to develop next-generation therapeutics for chronic inflammatory disorders.



Ahmed Al Adhami, Ph.D.

Post Doctoral Scholar
I was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq, and am currently a postdoctoral scholar in the Dhariwala laboratory. I came to the United States with a background in medical laboratory science and biotechnology. I earned my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Carolina. My research is driven by an interest in how the pulmonary immune system develops and how commensal microbiota influence long-term immune homeostasis in the lung—an area inspired by Dr. Dhariwala’s expertise in neonatal immune development in barrier tissues.
Outside the lab, I enjoys traveling, camping, and hiking, and I am an avid follower of Europe’s top five soccer leagues.

Michael Yeager, Ph.D.

Post Doctoral Scholar
I am a postdoctoral scholar in the Dhariwala lab studying the impact of commensal microbes on neonatal macrophage development in the skin. I was born in Buffalo, New York (GO BILLS), and lived in North Carolina (Cary/Holly Springs/Greenville) for a large part of my life. I completed my B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at East Carolina University, and my Ph.D. at Ohio State University in Biomedical Sciences with a focus on Immunology. I joined the Dhariwala lab to learn more about microbiology, commensal bacteria, and neonatal immunology. The primary focus of my project is to understand how commensal bacteria “imprint” on neonatal macrophages in the skin to promote wound healing mechanisms later in adult life. Outside of the lab, I enjoy football, video games, and spending time with my dog and girlfriend.

Jack Caine

Lab Manager - Graduate Student
I am a graduate student and lab manager in the Dhariwala lab working towards my Master’s in Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis. I am from here in Columbus and received my B.A in molecular biology from Kenyon College. I came into the program curious about the role of the commensal microbes on the immune system and found a place dissecting how monocytes alter IL-1 signaling and bacterial clearance in cutaneous S. aureus infections. Outside of lab I enjoy running, coaching Cross Country, and cooking.

Emily Kuhlman

Undergraduate Student

I am a second-year Neuroscience major at Ohio State in the Dhariwala Lab. My interest in immunology led me to join the lab, where I am currently investigating the localization of myeloid cells and IL-17–producing T cells in the lung using advanced imaging techniques. Outside of research, I enjoy riding horses, going on walks, and spending time with my friends and family.

Huzefa Sadiq

Undergraduate Student

I'm a second-year Biomedical Engineering major at Georgia Institute of Technology interested in immunology and computational biology. In the Dhariwala lab, I work to build computational software and pipelines for analysis and visualization of cellular data. Currently, my work involves analyzing high dimensional Flow Cytometry data to identify temporal myeloid shifts in neonatal lung models. Outside of research, I enjoy soccer, hiking, and traveling to new places.

Aya Elanany

MSIMP Masters Student

I am a master’s student in the Immunology & Microbial Pathogenesis program (MSIMP), supported by the Fulbright Foreign Student Grant. I did my BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences at Mansoura University, Egypt. Before joining MSIMP, I worked as a TA at the Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology and Mansoura University. I participated in different

research projects, gaining skills in microbiology, immunology, and bioinformatics. In the Dhariwala lab, I work on monocyte biology in the context of S. aureus cutaneous infections. Outside the lab, I enjoy cooking, reading, and volunteering. I serve as the MSIMP representative on the department’s Graduate Student Society and have been volunteering since

2018 with international organizations that aim to build capacity through science and education. Since 2021, I have been volunteering with Egypt Scholars Inc. in various roles, the highlight of which was leading a team in producing an 11-chapter Arabic book on pursuing graduate studies for international students, which has been downloaded over 14,000 times to date.



Previous Lab Members:


Sanyog Polkham:

Undergraduate Researcher.

Currently: Medical Student, Ohio State University


Robin Schwartz:

Lab Manager.

Currently: Working in higher education