Nisha Gopal is a research scientist in the Sabeti Lab, where she is part of the diagnostics team leading the research, development, and field evaluation of point-of-care pathogen detection tools, including SHINE (Streamlined Highlighting of Infections to Navigate Epidemics). Nisha’s work is particularly focused on detecting Lassa virus, circulating in West Africa, with specific engagements in Liberia and Nigeria. Her broader research interests include bioengineering, distributed manufacturing of diagnostics, and developing open-source solutions to address infectious disease outbreaks and support pathogen surveillance.

Nisha holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, where she was first introduced to biomedical research through fellowship programs like UROP (Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program) and the Amgen Scholars Program at UCLA. She built her early research foundations in cell biology and structural biology. Then, as a Fulbright scholar, Nisha earned her Master’s in Biochemistry from the University of Pierre & Marie Curie in Paris, France, where she investigated the bioenergetics of respiration in microalgae using x-ray crystallography. She went on to complete her PhD in Structural Biology at Stanford University in Dr. Axel Brunger’s lab, engineering recombinant antibody fragments to isolate structurally intact organelles from mouse brain tissue, allowing for high-resolution characterization of organelle-membrane fusion dynamics. In collaboration with Dr. Manu Prakash at Stanford, Nisha transitioned her technical skills to global health, developing LAMP-based diagnostics for Schistosomiasis, which ignited her passion for creating impactful diagnostic technologies.

Outside of the lab, Nisha enjoys cooking, exploring Boston’s neighborhoods with her husband, listening to podcasts, and salsa dancing. A Michigan native, she is embracing life on the East Coast, charmed by New England’s architecture and the local accent, and preparing for the winter season ahead.