Dr. Benjamin Y. Winer

Ben grew up between Tokyo, Japan and Washington, D.C., and has a multidisciplinary background having done his undergraduate work in chemistry and biophysics. He has a masters in biophysics where he worked on understanding how proteins fold using thermodynamic principles. He did his PhD research in the lab of Dr. Alexander Ploss (Molecular Biology) working closely with Dr. Tom Muir (Chemistry) working on the development of advanced organoid and engineered mouse models to study human tropic pathogens like hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis delta (HDD), HIV, and the malaria parasite. This work inspired Ben to transition again immune cell biology during his joint postdoctoral research between the labs of Morgan Huse (MSKCC), Orion Weiner (UCSF) and Jason Cyster (UCSF/HHMI). Ben’s work focused on immune cells mechanics. Ben is excited and committed to building an interdisciplinary, collaborative, vibrant, and support team. Outside of research Ben enjoys sports particularly soccer, art (sculpture and glasswork), cooking, and hiking.