About Us

Welcome to the Colubri Lab (CoLabo) at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. Our interdisciplinary team of computational scientists, software engineers, and visual designers is dedicated to pioneering new methods and tools for infectious disease research. We operate at the intersection of technology, data science, and public health, developing innovative solutions to understand and mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. By combining novel data collection methodologies—from participatory disease surveillance apps to experimental epidemic games—with advanced AI/ML models and user-centered, statistically sound data visualizations, we aim to translate complex biomedical data into actionable insights. Our collaborative approach, bridging diverse fields of expertise, allows us to tackle multifaceted challenges in epidemiology and create tools that have a real-world impact on global health.

Andonaq Grozdani
Andi is the Mobile App Software Developer in the lab. He has a B.S. in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. He has previously developed an app called Mvral which stores memories in specific locations around the world. On his free time he likes to read, workout, and work on car mechanics.
Winnie Mkandawire
Meet Winnie, a PhD candidate with an interdisciplinary flair! She has postgraduate academic background in Bioinformatics & Computational Biology, Epidemiology/Biostatistics, and Data Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, University of Malawi – College of Medicine, and Imperial College London and an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from Mzuzu University. Her research, in collaboration with the Pardis Sabeti Lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, blends AI, Data Science, Computational/Digital Epidemiology, and Bioinformatics to revolutionize our understanding of infectious disease outbreaks. Her PhD project centers on leveraging AI and Machine Learning to predict disease outcomes and pathogen evolution. She’s pioneering novel ML algorithms that fuse genomic data, epidemiology, and clinical information to forecast diagnoses and prognoses. Simultaneously, she’s enhancing the Operation Outbreak simulation platform, infusing it with pathogen evolution models to dissect disease transmission and co-location networks. This platform also doubles as a tool for infectious disease literacy and STEM education, enriching middle, and high school curricula in both the US and Africa. Next on Winnie’s Agenda? Developing a cutting-edge multi-agent system for in silico pathogen evolution studies. Outside of research, Winnie enjoys spending time with family, indulging in music & singing, experimenting with culinary delights, and exploring nature.
Justin Guerra
Justin graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio with a B.S in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics. My current research interests are using ML and statistical methods to analyze public health data to provide insights on disease from different populations. I am currently working on analyzing data for the PERM project to predict the chance of malnutrition within Indian children from public data. Outside of work, I love playing and teaching chess around the East Coast!
Charvi Bansal
I am student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, majoring in Computational Linguistics & Biomedical Engineering. As an intern at UMass Chan Medical School, I work on Bluetooth-based proximity sensing and its applications in healthcare research. With a strong interest in artificial intelligence, I am eager to explore how emerging technologies can support medical innovation and improve patient care. Outside of research, I enjoy learning about new AI developments and experimenting with creative projects.
Askar Temirbek
Askar is a graduate student in the lab. He did undergraduate studies at UMass Amherst in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology as well as graduate studies at WPI in Bioscience Management and at Harvard in Nanotechnology. He was a Drug Product Design and Development scientist at Pfizer working on cutting-edge nanomedicines such as ACCURINS and COVID-19 vaccine. Askar is interested in creating next-generation bioinformatics visualization tools and using machine learning for a diverse range of applications.
Sanskruti Magdum
Sanskruti Magdum is a Software Engineer at CoLabo. She recently completed her M.S. in Computer Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, focusing on software engineering, distributed systems, and machine learning. With experience building scalable applications and data-driven tools in both industry and research, she is excited to apply her skills to advancing science and medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and watching movies.
Andrés Colubri
Principal Instigator at CoLabo. Andrés originally studied mathematics at the Universidad Nacional del Sur in his native Argentina, and then carried out an MFA in Design Media Arts at the University of California, Los Angles. He did work in protein folding, infectious diseases, shader programming, data visualization, and creative coding, and now brings this ecletic experience to UMass.
Mansi Khandpekar
Mansi recently joined CoLabo as a UX and Data Visualization Designer, having earned her master’s in Information Design and Data Viz at Northeastern University. She previously interned at CoLabo, working on a new UI for the Operation Outbreak Project. With an architecture background from India, she’s now eager to integrate design and technology for seamless user experiences in Science and Medicine. Outside of work, she enjoys evening strolls in Boston Public Gardens, doodling, and exploring new art techniques.

Tzu-Chun
Tzu-Chun is a PhD candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, concurrently pursuing a Master’s in Statistics at University of Georgia (UGA). Her research intersects cardiovascular health, infectious diseases, and machine learning. The aim of her dissertation is to enhance machine learning models for a deeper understanding and improvement of cardiovascular disease outcomes and the progression of multimorbidity in COVID-19 patients. Away from data and models, she finds joy in hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with her friends, husband, and their Lab Retriever mix
Trusting Inekwe
Trusting is a graduate student pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and currently doing internship with the Colubri Lab. He holds a master’s degree in Computer Science from WPI and a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Eastern Mediterranean University, North Cyprus. His research interests involve the creation of interactive systems that intersect science, art, and programming with the goal of improving the livelihood of target groups. His PhD research involves the creation of such interactive systems to help advance STEM education. During his free time, he enjoys singing and playing musical instruments.
Salihu Musa
Dr. Musa received his PhD in Mathematical Epidemiology from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, M.Sc. from Near East University, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and B.Sc. from Kano University of Science and Technology, Nigeria. He works in the lab as a Bioinformatician (Mathematical Epidemiologist). Before joining the University of Massachusetts, Dr. Musa was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong. His research focuses on developing mathematical and statistical modeling frameworks to investigate the transmission dynamics of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases to shed light on how pathogens spread and provides suggestions to public health decision-makers on control and prevention measures, considering minimal socioeconomic disruption. He enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his children in his spare time.
Yinan Dong
Yinan, a UX and Data Visualization designer, holds an MFA in Information Design and Data Visualization from Northeastern University. She has been with the lab since 2021, as the UX/UI designer focusing on projects such as Muttomics, Travel Healthy, and Operation Outbreak. Outside of work, she finds pleasure in spending time with her chubby cats, creating drawings, and cooking in her daily life.
Carlos Cruz
Carlos is an experienced full-stack engineer with a curiosity for front-end implementations and SaaS. He enjoys building data visualizations and modern platforms tools for commercial, scientific, and research purposes, and I have worked in diverse data-driven industries, from IoT to Healthcare.

Elo
Elo is a User Experience designer originally from Beijing, China. She is an undergraduate student pursuing a combined degree in Computer Science and Design at Northeastern University. With a group of friends, she designed and implemented a transportation system for characters to move in an online collaboration space. Besides programming, she is passionate about making sciences easier to understand with data visualization. Outside of the labs, Elo loves stand-up comedy shows, seafood restaurants, and trips to tropical islands. She has a Shiba Inu back home.
Arnav Gupta
Arnav is a current senior high-school student interning for the lab. He attends the Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science and takes dual-enrollment classes at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) focusing on computer science. His interests lie in computer science and using ML to perform data analysis in the medical field. He is working with Andres and other CoLabo members on the PREM App. During his free time, he likes to listen to music, play soccer, and play video games.
Michael Fileto
Michael completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Biology at the University of California Riverside. He became interested in studying Computer Science after taking a course in Genomics and Bioinformatics at UCR. Michael aims to bring both disciplines in Biology and CS together to create applications that transform data within Biology.
Rachel Goldstein
A Texas native, Rachel graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Trinity University. During her rotation, Rachel learned about the applications of epidemiological models to current outbreaks and diseases. When she gets screen fatigue and can’t binge TV shows, she likes to explore New England’s hiking trails.
Kiersten O'Connell
Kiersten is a chemical engineering student set to graduate from UMass Amherst in 2027. She is also pursuing a concentration in biochemical engineering and a minor in Chinese. Kiersten joined CoLabo in Spring 2025 where she helped to test run the updated educational app, Operation Outbreak, through her residential hall at the UMass Amherst campus. Outside of academics, she enjoys gymnastics, roller coasters, and exploring nature with friends and family.
Kelsey Butler
Kelsey is a graduate student in the lab, and she holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Vermont and a B.S. in Chemistry from Castleton University. Her current project is focused on using machine learning techniques to develop a model to predict outcome in Lassa fever patients. When she isn’t in the lab, she enjoys running, yoga, and gardening.
Ben Kresge
Ben is an undergraduate student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, doing a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Minor in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. He’s interning at CoLabo during the summer to work on proximity detection algorithms using the Herald library.
Chijioke Oyeani
Chijioke is a first year PhD student in the Biomedical Science program. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Nigeria. His research interests lie at the intersection of host-pathogen interaction, epidemiology and bioinformatics. For his rotation, he intends to extrapolate data from Lassa fever outbreak for clinical prediction of infection. Outside the lab, he enjoys watching soccer and his favorite series.
Faith Shim
Faith is an undergraduate at Brown University concentrating in Computer Science on the Pre-Med track. Her interests range from ML and data to medicine and the intersections between both fields. She is currently working with Andres and the CoLabo members on developing ClinicApp. During her free time, she enjoys listening and playing music and taking film pictures!
Disha Khanna
Disha earned her associate’s degree in biology from Quinsigamond Community College and then a B.S. in biology with a minor in bioinformatics from Worcester State University. During her time in the Colubri lab, Disha explored publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing datasets to study Human Cytomegalovirus with a long-term goal of developing novel computational tools. Outside of the lab, Disha enjoys making doodle art designs, cooking, and binge-watching TV shows.
Nathan Hill
Nathan Hill did his graduate theses at Harvard College, where he studied Molecular and Cellular Biology, under with Andrés and Pardis as advisers. His thesis explored the spread of the 2009 Swine Flu pandemic in Florida. In his free time, he enjoys distance running, reading fiction, and playing the trombone.
Shannen Lin
Shannen is an undergraduate at Worcester Polytechnic Institute majoring in Computer Science and Psychology. During her time in the lab, she is working on the Operation Outbreak project to develop a prototype mobile app to test new features. In her free time, she enjoys baking and reading.
Shrestha Mishra
Shrestha Mishra is a senior at Coppell High School in Coppell, TX, with a strong interest in computer science, particularly in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He is currently collaborating with Andres on the Pocket AI Lab diagnostic tool, contributing to innovative advancements in healthcare technology. Additionally, Shrestha is a researcher at the FARIL Lab at Harvard Medical School, where he is involved in developing AI algorithms for surgical applications. Outside of his academic pursuits, he enjoys playing the trumpet and has a passion for soccer.
Brian Wee
Originally from Boulder, Colorado, Brian is an undergraduate student at Harvard College studying Chemical and Physical Biology and Government. He is currently working under Andrés and Pardis on a computational epidemiology project utilizing hierarchical linear models and machine learning to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on disrupting medical care for individuals with underlying medical conditions. Outside of the lab, Brian enjoys hiking, escape rooms, and month-long lifestyle changes, along with being involved in various Harvard organizations including the World Pre-Health Conference and Harvard College Undergraduate Research Association.
Hung Hong
Hung is the Software Engineer in the lab. He holds an M.S. in Computer Science in WPI and a B.S. in Computer Science and Interactive Media & Game Design from WPI. He is currently in charge of full-stack management of the Operation Outbreak project. During his free time, he enjoys drawing, listening to music, and developing games for fun.
Isha Nagireddy
Isha Nagireddy is a junior in high school at Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science at WPI. Her interests are in machine learning and bioinformatics, with her main goal being to impact the healthcare industry through computer science. In particular, Isha has done research in medical app development and disease detection models. She is currently working on the project ClinicApp at CoLabo. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball!