Rahul Srivastava earned his doctorate in Life Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India, under the mentorship of Dr. Niti Puri. His doctoral research investigated host–pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on Mast cell responses during Leishmania infection using advanced proteomic approaches. This work provided novel insights into the innate immune signals that influence infection outcomes and shape long-term immunity.
Currently, Rahul is a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Iyer’s laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, where his research focuses on CD4⁺ T cell subsets; especially T follicular helper (Tfh) cells in the context of vaccine-induced protection. By integrating cellular and molecular immunology, immunological assays, cellular phenotyping, and flow cytometry, he aims to uncover immune mechanisms that drive durable, high-quality antibody responses. His goal is to leverage these findings to inform the design of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies for chronic viral infections such as HIV.
Outside of the lab, Rahul likes cooking different types of food, which lets him be creative. He also enjoys playing chess. In his free time, he listens to music.