Lab Members
Kristin Terez, MS
PhD Candidate at Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, NYU
2026-present
Kristin holds a BS in Environmental Science from Rutgers University and an MS in Environmental Toxicology from NYU. She is currently a second-year PhD student at the Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at NYU.
Kristin’s interest in ocular biology began during her time as a lab manager at Rutgers University, where she characterized retinal degeneration in CRISPR-Cas9 knockout zebrafish models of Congenital Muscular Dystrophy. This work sparked a broader interest in the molecular underpinnings of ocular disease and the use of genetic models.
In Dr. Chakravarti’s lab, Kristin is characterizing the functional role of keratoconus-causing genes in the cornea, and how its dysregulation may drive the disease. Her broader research interests include corneal cell biology, lipid metabolism in epithelial tissues, and the use of genetic models to study ocular surface disease.
When Kristin is not in the lab, you can find her practicing photography, attending a Broadway show, or exploring one of NYC’s many art museums.
Preya Pandya, MS
Research Technician
2026-present
Preya holds a BE in Chemical Engineering from the University of Mumbai and has recently graduated from Columbia University with a MS in Chemical Engineering specializing in biotechnology and biopharmaceuticals. Prior to joining the lab, she worked as a Research Intern in Therapeutics Biology and Target Validation at Nilo Therapeutics, where she investigated neuro-immune regulation in murine disease models to support target prioritization and mechanism-of-action studies.
In 2026, Preya joined Dr. Shukti Chakravarti’s lab as an Associate Research Technician to contribute to the lab’s Keratoconus Study and manage daily lab operations. Her research interests include immune–stromal crosstalk, extracellular matrix biology, and translational approaches to inflammatory and degenerative disease.
Madhuri Koduri, MS, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
2023-Present
Madhuri attained her Master’s in Biotechnology from Kakatiya University, India, in 2017. She then completed her Doctoral degree from L V Prasad Eye Institute, India, in 2023. During her PhD, she investigated the tear proteome and the mechanism of lid margin keratinization in Chronic Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Her research interests include ocular surface immunology and the cornea.
In 2023, Madhuri joined Dr. Shukti Chakravarti’s lab as a Postdoctoral Fellow. In this role, she focuses on the functional analysis of NRF2-mediated oxidative stress signaling in keratoconus and corneal stromal cells. She is also investigating the corneal organoid-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) and stromal cells.
In her free time, Madhuri likes to play chess, badminton, and enjoys pencil art.
George Maiti, MS, M.Tech, PhD
Associate Research Scientist
2016-present
George earned his Ph.D. from the University of Calcutta, India, in 2014, where his research focused on elucidating the role of Wnt5a signaling in macrophage function. He subsequently joined Dr. Chakravarti’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University, where he studied mechanisms by which small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRPs) regulate TLR4- and TLR9 -mediated responses in macrophages and dendritic cells. He relocated with her group to NYU Langone Health to continue working on these projects. His more recent work revealed a novel regulation of CD4+ T cell function by SLRPs in the lymph nodes in a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis.
In another project he is characterizing the transcriptomic landscape of corneal organoids using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
2026 Summer Interns
- Rowan Dickson
Rowan is using human corneal organoids to study cell differentiation and regenerative potential as an alternative to corneal transplantation. His work examines whether organoid-derived cells acquire epithelial- and keratocyte-like identities under defined conditions, and whether organoid-derived ECM can promote wound healing in vitro.