Personnel

Ben was hired as the first person to take part in the Bigley Lab UWM2WashU Research Program aimed at providing research, clinical and networking opportunities to people who are from backgrounds underrepresented in science/medicine and want to gain more experience in order to pursue a career as a physician scientist.

Born and raised in Naperville, IL, Ben Cisneros developed a deep interest in science and medicine, not just academically but also through personal experiences. A pivotal moment occurred while playing in a hockey game, when a seizure led to the discovery of a brain AVM, profoundly shaping Ben's future path. This experience fueled his passion for understanding complex medical phenomena. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Ben earned a degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, minoring in Chemistry. These studies laid the groundwork for his current research at WashU, where he delves into the intricacies of viruses and their impact on T cell development and autoimmunity. Ben’s work is not just a professional pursuit but a personal journey, blending his scientific curiosity with a commitment to understanding and potentially mitigating the effects of serious medical conditions. Outside the lab, Ben still holds a fondness for hockey. He also enjoys outdoor activities like fishing, providing a refreshing contrast to his work in the lab.

Nillu Ghosh was born and grew up in India. She completed her PhD at Jadavpur University, Kolkata. In her PhD, she investigated the “Host immune responses to Helicobacter pylori infection”. After completing her PhD, she moved to the USA and joined University of Miami as a postdoctoral associate. In her postdoc, she studied the effect of opioids on gastrointestinal tract pathophysiology and the underlying mechanisms. She also studied the role of opioid induced gut and gastric microbiome in gastrointestinal inflammation. After completing her postdoctoral training, she joined the Bigley lab as a staff scientist.

Eden Xue was born and grew up in Beijing, China. In her junior year in college, she transferred from Capital Normal University in Beijing to Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis where she received her B.A. degree in English and Secondary Education and obtained her teaching certificate in High School English. While teaching was one of her passions, she pursued a career path in the financial industry for 11 years. She started her corporate journey at Scottrade where she acquired industry knowledge, content/project management skills, and client education experience. Her journey continued at TD Ameritrade where she supported the International Marketing team specifically in digital marketing. Before she joined Washington University School of Medicine, she was a manager in the Global Investing team at Charles Schwab mainly supporting internal partners to achieve their business goals. She got her MBA degree at Webster University and obtained her FINRA licenses in series 7, 63, SIE and 24 while working full time. Currently, she is a Research Technician in the Bigley Lab. In her leisure time, Eden loves cooking and baking, and exploring new cuisines with her husband and her son. One of her favorite weekend activities is being a spectator at her son’s tennis tournaments.

Lifei Zhu was a graduate student in the Chen Ultrasound Lab at Washington University. She received her PhD in 2021. She is currently a postdoc fellow at Washington University. She earned her bachelor’s degree of Clinical Medicine in 2014 and Master Degree in Clinical Medicine (Oncology) in 2016 from Chongqing Medical University.