Ajay Kumar Email & Phone Number

Ann Arbor, MI, US

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

• Worked on the role of cellular and molecular pathways controlling Tconv, Treg, Th17 and naïve and memory CD8 T cell development and immunity in a mouse model.
• Elucidated the role of glutamine metabolism in fueling NKT cell homeostasis and functions.
• Early-Stage Career Investigator grant from AAI.
• Communicated research development at several platforms including an oral talk (invited talk) at AAI, 2022 and for a short course conducted by University of Michigan Immunology Program.
• Supervised and managed 3 research associates in experiments and routine lab business who are now independently doing their tasks.
• Wrote grants as Principal Investigator (PI).

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

• Designed, performed and managed proof of concept studies to study T cell immune responses.
• Performed adoptive transfer experiments to study in vivo responses of T cells.
• Deciphered the role of Fe in controlling T cell development and their peripheral maintenance. Validated metabolic pathways required to drive T cell homeostasis and immune functions using advanced metabolism techniques.
• Used multi-color flow cytometer to study immunophenotyping.
• Served as flow cytometry lead for the Microbiology and Immunology Department including handling, calibration, training to new users and troubleshooting the instrument's working conditions.
• Selected for oral talk from AIC 2018.

• Investigated host pathogen interaction studies focused on the innate immune response to bacterial endophthalmitis.
• Confocal microscopy and gene expression analysis.
• Expression of recombinant proteins. siRNA mediated knockdown of genes
• Elucidated the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammasome in regulating innate immune response to
• Staphylococcus aureus induced endophthalmitis. Performed confocal microscopic studies to study changes in retinal microglia cells in response to bacterial infection.
• Received Young Investigator award from ARVO 2015 for presentation of my work on ER stress role in innate immune response to bacterial endophthalmitis.