# Current Fellows ## Current Fellows Rowland Fellows are appointed to the Rowland Institute at Harvard for up to five years. They act as Principal Investigators and run independent research programs that may include postdoctoral fellows, undergraduate researchers, and more. ![Photo of Rowland Institute's Current Fellows. A diverse group of seven people stands smiling in front of a yellow background. Their expressions convey friendliness and confidence, suggesting a positive team dynamic.](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_21_9__1920x825/public/2026-07/fellows-crop-1.jpg?itok=qxuNUdv8) [### Arjun Ashoka, PhD ](/directory/arjun-ashoka-phd) Physics & Materials Science 2025 - present We investigate how the local, temporal fluctuations of electrons, ions, and atoms dictate the macroscopic thermodynamic properties of condensed matter. Utilizing ultrafast nonlinear and laser optics, we develop tools to directly measure these fluctuations... ![Headshot of Arjun Ashoka](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/b6c8864744fc8848814d755450682dd8bc6fa6c6.jpg?itok=b6WAKJFP) [### Kevin Gozzi, PhD ](/directory/kevin-gozzi-phd) Microbial Genetics & Physiology 2022 - present We study gene transfer agents (GTAs), a widespread but poorly understood mechanism of horizontal gene transfer. GTAs are bacterial-encoded virus-like entities that package random sections of the host genome for horizontal transfer to other cells in the... ![Headshot of Kevin Gozzi](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/11c8da329e4e6393cd6c7391b9885f40fba6f001.jpg?itok=HWaChWqS) [### Purnati Khuntia, PhD ](/directory/purnati-khuntia-phd) [purnati\_khuntia@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:purnati_khuntia@fas.harvard.edu)Mechano-Developmental Biology 2024 - present Our lab investigates how tissue-level architectures emerge from the material properties and spatial organization of subcellular structures. Currently, we are focusing on nuclear mechanics and positioning in the context of epithelial pseudostratification... ![Headshot of Purnati Khuntia](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/0eb200529bb3d5cb8a47c09c083f3bc300699a41.jpeg?itok=YTyFF7Ae) [### Viktoriia Morad, PhD ](/directory/viktoriia-morad-ph-d) Physics & Material Sciences 2025 - present Natural photosynthesis channels energy with exquisite spatial control: light is harvested, excitations split into charges, and those charges are steered to the exact sites where chemistry happens. Our lab aims to emulate these core principles with novel... ![Headshot of Viktoriia Morad](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/66b52fe342ebfc90ce265dcdab323f7686eed797.jpg?itok=3etel2z3) [### Avalon Owens, PhD ](/directory/avalon-owens-phd) Ecology & Evolution 2022 - present The Owens laboratory studies how organisms and ecosystems cope with anthropogenic light pollution. We are particularly interested in the ecological costs and evolutionary history of flight-to-light behavior (positive phototaxis), most famously exhibited... ![Headshot of Avalon Owens](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/27595ce2ec6a2cb48877df19a8cdbbc100c79b61.jpg?itok=nlGlgC9A) [### Sophia Shi, Ph.D ](/directory/sophia-shi-ph-d) [sophia\_shi@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:sophia_shi@fas.harvard.edu)Neurobiology & Glycoscience 2025 - present The Shi Lab seeks to uncover molecular mechanisms that drive brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases. We specialize in decoding glycans—complex carbohydrates that decorate our cells and permeate our brain’s extracellular environment. Despite their... ![Headshot of Sophia Shi](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/4e641fc95599a6c1dd5b82fbb93f96b0fddb0486.jpg?itok=c2ZwIVqQ) [### Oluwasegun Wahab, PhD ](/directory/oluwasegun-wahab-phd) Nanoscale Electrochemistry & Analytical Instrumentation 2024 - present Our lab seeks to elucidate and control dynamic electrochemical processes at the nanoscale sites of complex electrodes that are critical to energy and environmental technologies. We are dedicated to advancing the applications and capabilities of cutting... ![Headshot of Oluwasegun Wahab](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/fa445d276ed9ca4536860e7b0e3b698d4ac0293f.jpg?itok=kHb7n-33) [### Zeguan Wang, PhD ](/directory/zeguan-wang-phd) Neuroscience & Optical microscopy 2026 - present Zeguan received his B.S. in Applied Physics from the University of Science and Technology of China, and his Ph.D. in Media Arts and Sciences from MIT, where he trained with Ed Boyden. At Rowland, his research focuses on developing optical and molecular... ![ Headshot of Zeguan Wang ](/sites/g/files/omnuum13181/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/2026-07/2adebe5313389bef35243ee7cf802c470a3aaeec.jpg?itok=r0fIHvJx)