Current Members
Dr. Christa Nehs is an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia at MGH and HMS. Her lab studies how metabolism and sleep shape brain function across aging, general anesthesia, neuropsychiatric disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease, with a focus on mechanisms that influence brain vulnerability and resilience. Her work integrates systems neuroscience, sleep physiology, mitochondrial biology, and behavioral neuroscience to identify modifiable biological pathways that can improve cognitive recovery, sleep quality, and brain health across aging and disease. Outside the lab, Christa enjoys spending time with her husband, five children, and two dogs, running, and boating on the Boston Harbor.
Assistant Professor of Anesthesia
Dr. Arianna Lark is a postdoctoral fellow in the Nehs Lab at MGH, Harvard Medical School, where she studies the interactions between metabolism and sleep in healthy and pathological aging. Prior to joining, she completed a postdoc at Virginia Commonwealth University investigating neuroHIV and earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa, where she examined the nutritional regulation of sleep through a novel G protein-coupled receptor. Her research interests broadly focus on the interplay of viral infection and sleep with special emphasis on the contributions of metabolism and aging. Outside the laboratory, she enjoys trail running, hot yoga, salsa dancing, and spending time with friends.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Fayaz Mir is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Nehs Lab at MGH, Harvard Medical School. Where he untangles the fascinating connections between sleep, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, investigating brainstem circuits that govern chemosensory and sleep modulation. In the Nehs Lab, Dr. Mir employs fiber photometry, wireless EEG recordings, and behavioral paradigms to determine whether sleep and mitochondrial interventions can safeguard the aging and Alzheimer’s-affected brain. When not decoding the brain’s midnight mysteries, he is either hitting boundaries on the cricket field or pondering existential questions through life philosophy.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Naqiya Ambareen is a postdoctoral research fellow at Nehs Lab at MGH, Harvard Medical School. Her research focuses on cellular neuroscience and neurodegeneration. She investigates how nanoplastics affect brain function, focused on neuroinflammation, metabolic dysfunction and neuronal vulnerability in psychiatric and aging-related disorders. She earned her PhD in Biological Sciences from CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, where she studied the role of autophagy in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer’s disease. Naqiya is passionate about science writing, communication and microscopy.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Sema Aygar, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral researcher in the Nehs Lab whose work focuses on mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease, sleep-related brain vulnerability, mitochondrial stress, and brain resilience. She brings a cell-based and translational neuroscience perspective to these studies, drawing on her background in human iPSC disease modeling, stem cell biology, gene editing, imaging, and molecular assays. Her current research examines how sleep disruption, mitochondrial redox imbalance, and neuroinflammation contribute to Alzheimer’s disease progression, with broader interests in sleep, metabolism, stress biology, biological sex, and recovery after anesthesia.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Jack is an undergraduate student at BYUI where he is earning a degree in Biomedical Science. Back at school he spends his free time in a zebrafish lab studying neural crest derived cells. He plans to pursue a career in medicine after graduation. Outside the lab you’ll find Jack dominating on the basketball court or running with Parker.
Summer Research Student 2026
Parker is an undergraduate student studying biomedical sciences at BYUI. His research interests include neuroscience, anaesthesia and translational medicine. He hopes to pursue a medical doctorate after his undergraduate degree. Outside of the lab, Parker enjoys spending his time playing soccer and going on a nice long run with Jack.
Summer Research Student 2026
Bryton is an undergraduate studying Neuroscience at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He is an aspiring physician and is particularly interested in prophylactic medicine. He loves rock climbing, hiking, and anything outdoors.
Summer Research Student 2025/2026
Past Members
Nehs Lab: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Current Role:
Nehs Lab: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Current Role:
Nehs Lab: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Current Role:
Nehs Lab: Summer Research Student 2023
Nehs Lab: Summer Research Student 2023
Nehs Lab: Summer Research Student 2023
Nehs Lab: Summer Research Student 2023
Nehs Lab: Research Technician
Nehs Lab:
Nehs Lab:
Nehs Lab:
Nehs Lab: