Rutgers Doctoral Student Advances Translational Cancer Research in the Glytsou Lab

When Saurav Doshi joined Dr. Christina Glytsou’s lab at Rutgers, he was stepping into a new research environment, a new field, and a newly established faculty lab. For Glytsou, an assistant professor whose lab combines basic biology with translational cancer research, Saurav stood out immediately.

“Saurav stood out immediately for his courage and enthusiasm in joining a newly established lab and stepping into a completely new field of research,” Glytsou said. “He was genuinely curious and eager to learn, while also being very modest, approachable, and thoughtful in his interactions with others.”

Saurav, a Ph.D. student at Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy and School of Graduate Studies, first connected with the lab through Professor Suzie Chen, who was then chair of the Department of Chemical Biology. Saurav had approached Chen in 2021 while completing his master’s degree in India and looking for a dissertation project related to cancer research and drug discovery. When Glytsou was establishing her lab at Rutgers, Chen recommended Saurav as a strong fit.

Saurav Doshi in the lab, where his doctoral research focuses on novel drug combinations for blood cancers.

For Saurav, the opportunity aligned closely with his interests. He had long been drawn to drug development for life-threatening diseases, first sparked by medical dramas such as House M.D. and Grey’s Anatomy, and later deepened through undergraduate research.

“I had a keen interest in cancer research due to one of my undergraduate professors who works in the field of breast cancer,” Saurav said. “One of her classic quotes was, ‘Cancer is a smart entity, always plotting against us to survive.’”

That idea stayed with him. Cancer’s ability to adapt, resist treatment, and survive became one of the central scientific puzzles that pushed him toward research.

“Finding a cure for cancer has been a challenge for the research community, and I wanted to be a part of the race,” he said.

Connecting Basic Biology and Translational Cancer Research

The Glytsou lab studies fundamental questions in biology while also pursuing research with potential clinical relevance. The lab is especially interested in mitochondria, mitochondrial plasticity, leukemia biology, and therapy resistance.

“We combine approaches of both basic biology and translational cancer research,” Glytsou said during an initial conversation for this story. “We still have a very strong interest in fundamental biology and want to address basic questions, like how mitochondria work.”

The lab asks how mitochondria contribute to leukemia progression and resistance to therapy. Saurav’s work is central to that research program. His project focuses on novel combinatorial drug regimens for blood cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

“Saurav’s work is central to several key projects in the lab,” Glytsou said. “He has been using preclinical models to test novel drug combinations for cancer treatment, helping advance some of our most important translational research goals.”

His work has also helped extend the lab’s research into new directions.

“In addition, his work has expanded the scope of our research program into leukemia subtypes that the lab had not previously studied, opening exciting new directions for future investigation,” Glytsou said.

Saurav Doshi with his advisor, Dr. Christina Glytsou, in the Glytsou Lab.

For Saurav, the most exciting part of the work is seeing whether a treatment can make a measurable difference in preclinical models.

“The thrill to treat animals and to see that your drug treatment is actually improving the survival, that is the best thing for me,” he said.

One of his most meaningful lab experiences involved a drug efficacy experiment that required collecting tissues from 28 animals to study whether treatment reduced cancer spread.

“The entire lab came together to work on this experiment,” Saurav said. “Leading this experiment and obtaining successful results from it felt very exciting. It gave me valuable lessons about leadership while working in a team. It was amazing to see how synchronous we were amidst the experimental chaos.”

Growing Into an Independent Researcher

Since joining the lab, Saurav has grown scientifically and professionally. Glytsou said he has moved from carrying out experiments to thinking independently about science.

“He is now able to formulate his own scientific questions, design methodologies to address them, and critically interpret results,” she said.

That transition has not always been easy. Saurav described one of his biggest challenges as moving from the mindset of a master’s student or lab technician, where the work often centers on following established protocols, to the more complex expectations of doctoral training.

“The toughest challenge was developing the habit of interpreting the data generated from different techniques from a bird’s eye view to support the broader hypothesis over individual aims,” he said.

Glytsou has helped him develop that broader scientific perspective through monthly lab meetings and individual discussions. Saurav said he has learned to bring together different results, examine them collectively, and remain open to feedback from the lab.

“As a researcher, I have been keen on dissecting my results during lab meetings and being open to suggestions to improve my interpretation of the data,” he said.

His growth has already led to major accomplishments. Saurav said his proudest moment at Rutgers has been seeing his work published after months of effort.

“Our lab’s study published in 2025 about overcoming drug-resistance and improving disease outcomes for blood cancer patients was one of my biggest achievements at Rutgers,” he said.

He also published a first-author review article soon after. Beyond the publications themselves, one of the most meaningful moments came from his mentor’s response.

“I remember an email from Dr. Glytsou where she expressed how proud she was about this publication from our lab and my first author review article that was published soon after,” Saurav said. “Seeing your mentor feel proud about you makes a student proud and motivated to keep working ahead.”

Mentorship, Teamwork, and Lab Culture

The Glytsou lab has a layered mentoring structure. Postdoctoral researchers mentor graduate students, senior graduate students mentor junior students, and graduate students mentor undergraduates. Saurav, now the senior-most graduate student in the lab, has become part of that mentoring culture.

Saurav Doshi with his advisor, Dr. Christina Glytsou, and members of the Glytsou Lab.

“Saurav is an excellent team player who contributes positively to the collaborative culture of the lab,” Glytsou said. “He is persistent and stays motivated even when experiments become challenging. He has also become a mentor for undergraduate students and is an effective communicator when he presents his work to audiences of diverse backgrounds, which makes him a valuable member of the group.”

Saurav described Glytsou’s mentoring style as one that pushes students toward independence while maintaining high standards.

“Dr. Glytsou’s mentoring style involves nurturing a student into an independent researcher,” he said. “She emphasizes highly on research discipline, logical thinking and scientific ethics.”

He said Glytsou is deeply involved in experiment planning and future directions for the project, while also allowing students room to learn through the research process.

“While she is strict with experimental accuracy and planning, she is open to students making mistakes and is a very patient mentor,” Saurav said. “She empathizes during difficult situations, while reining back students to focus on our projects when we deviate from our project goals.”

During his first year, Glytsou helped him plan his weekly schedule and personally taught him lab techniques. By his third year, the relationship had shifted toward independence.

“Now in my third year she is looking towards making me into an independent researcher deciding my own experiments,” Saurav said.

For Glytsou, mentoring is one of the most meaningful parts of running a lab, even as it requires balancing research productivity, publications, funding pressures, and individualized support for each trainee.

“I love interacting with the students, and all these different personalities, and all these dreams that come from different backgrounds,” she said. “Each person has to have a tailored mentoring approach.”

Mark Robson, Distinguished Professor, and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, said Saurav’s story speaks to both his talent and the mentoring environment Dr. Christina Glytsou has created in her lab. “Saurav is doing meaningful cancer research, growing into an independent scientist, and helping others along the way,” Robson said. “That kind of growth does not happen by accident. It shows Saurav’s dedication, but also Dr. Glytsou’s thoughtful mentorship and the supportive, rigorous training environment she has built in her lab.”

Looking Ahead

After completing his degree, Saurav hopes to continue in drug development in the pharmaceutical industry. He sees himself working on projects that can lead to tangible products, including drug formulations or vaccines, with a broader benefit to society.

“I see myself working on projects that will lead to successful product such as a drug formulations or vaccine, helping the society at large,” he said.

Outside the lab, Saurav brings the same energy and curiosity to the arts and culture. During his undergraduate years, he was interested in Indian classical singing and Bollywood dancing. More recently, he began Latin and ballroom dancing. In 2026, he participated in the 21st Annual Rutgers Ballroom Competition in the Newcomer category, winning 11 finalist ribbons across eight dance forms, including Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Chacha, Rumba, and Swing.

He is also, as he puts it, “a huge foodie” who enjoys trying cuisines from different cultures.

“I have taken a fancy towards Thai cuisine lately,” he said.

For Glytsou, Saurav’s story reflects what can happen when a motivated student joins a supportive research environment and grows through mentorship, collaboration, and scientific challenge.

“Saurav has shown tremendous growth both scientifically and professionally,” Glytsou said. “Over the past couple of years, he has developed a deep knowledge of the field and evolved from mainly carrying out experiments to thinking independently about science.”