Splash Biography



NEHA ARUN, Microbiology PhD student studying HIV



Major: Microbiology

College/Employer: Yale

Year of Graduation: G

Picture of Neha Arun

Brief Biographical Sketch:

I'm a first-year PhD student in Microbiology, with a strong interest in HIV and virology due to the complex challenges posed to human health and effect on underprivileged populations. My interests range from biology, to music and dance, and I enjoy teaching and mentoring students of all ages across those disciplines. I view education as a way to give back to communities by empowering students, and in turn, equipping those students to become the empowerers of the future!



Past Classes

  (Clicking a class title will bring you to the course's section of the corresponding course catalog)

S4833: Viruses and Vaccines in Splash Spring 2024 (Apr. 06, 2024)
Viruses and vaccines have been all over the news during the COVID-19 pandemic, but what exactly makes some viral vaccines successful while other viruses still lack an effective vaccine? We will start with background on what viruses and vaccines are, and then explore the following topics: - Virology concepts, such as why some viruses like poliovirus have more effective vaccine campaigns vs. others like HIV that present unique obstacles for vaccine development. - Are vaccines easier to develop for pathogens like bacteria compared to viruses? - Vaccine design, types of vaccines, efficacy (including why we need boosters), and addressing vaccine-related misinformation. - Future directions and improvements in vaccine technology for viruses, such as the success of mRNA vaccines.


S4787: Viruses and Vaccines in Splash Fall 2023 (Nov. 11, 2023)
Viruses and vaccines have been all over the news during the COVID-19 pandemic, but what exactly makes some viral vaccines successful while other viruses still lack an effective vaccine? We will start with background on what viruses and vaccines are, and then explore the following topics: - Virology concepts, such as why some viruses like poliovirus have had effective vaccine campaigns vs. others like HIV present unique obstacles for vaccine development. - Why are vaccines easier to develop for pathogens like bacteria compared to viruses? - Vaccine design, including types of vaccines, efficacy (including why we need boosters), and the growth of vaccine-related misinformation. - Future directions and improvements in vaccine technology for viruses, such as the success of mRNA vaccines.