Active Researchers

Principal Investigator
Melanie Ruffner
Melanie A. Ruffner, MD, PhD, is an attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology and the Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorders at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Lab Manager
Jarad Beers
Jarad was born and raised in the boonies of Pennsylvania where he discovered his love for the outdoors with such activities as hiking, camping, rock climbing, etc. He completed his MS in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology at Thomas Jefferson University and joined CHOP in December of 2020.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Megha Lal
Megha, originally from New Delhi, India, joined the Ruffner Lab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) as a Postdoctoral Fellow in March 2021. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from the University of Delhi and earned her PhD from the Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology. She co-chairs the CHOP Postdoctoral Alliance. In her free time, she enjoys reading thriller fiction, dancing, and traveling.

Lab Technician II
Zoe Mrozek
Zoe is originally from Baltimore, Maryland and came to Philadelphia to attend Saint Joseph’s University (go hawks!) where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology. Her research journey has continued here at CHOP as she works on various projects across the lab. Outside of work you will find her jetting off on a new travel adventure, running on the Schuylkill river trail, exploring new restaurants and cafes in the city, or heading to the shore in the summer!.

Postdoctoral Fellow
Ravi Gautam
Dr. Ravi Gautam, from Nepal, earned his PhD in South Korea. His research focused on immunology and immunotoxicology. As a postdoc in the Ruffner Lab, he studies eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and the mechanism of action of proton pump inhibitors in its management. He enjoys hiking, watching movies, and playing tennis.

Fellow
Alyssa Baccarella
Alyssa is a pediatric gastroenterologist who specializes in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease. In her free time she loves hiking with her husband Eddie, playing games, and finding new toys for her cat, Gloria (aka sweet baby g).
Alumni

Lab Technician
Margaret Carroll
Maggie has gone on to pursue a PhD with the intent of opening up her own lab. In her free time she likes to play with her cat, played dungeons and dragons, and adventure around the city.

Fellow
Paulina Tran
Paulina completed her fellowship training in allergy and immunology at CHOP and the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Tran currently cares for patients with immunodeficiency and allergic disease. She is certified by both the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, and the American Board of Pediatrics.

Fellow
Tina Trachsel
Tina completed her research portion of her fellowship at CHOP and has since then moved back to Switzerland. There she is practicing in her home country within the immunology department. In her free time she likes to spend her time hiking, adventuring, and riding horses.
Students
Students
Emily Huynh
Aimen Shaadab
Vy Trinh Nguyen
Alaina Steck
University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
year
2021
2023
2023
Present

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