Kanika Khanna

What is your current role? Tell us a bit about your research
I am currently a postdoctoral scholar at the University of California, Berkeley studying the mechanistic basis of host-pathogen interactions. I am interested in understanding the structural basis of how pathogens manipulate host cell membranes to cause cell-cell fusion.
What are you excited about in science communication?
I am excited about reaching out to a broad audience about the research we do in the lab, by making the process more open transparent and creative. Something that ignites curiosity on the one hand and is able to drive effective policy for global health on the other.
Why did you choose to participate in the ASAPbio Fellows program?
I realized that I get a sense of accomplishment whenever I post my research paper as a preprint rather than it being published in the journal eventually. As an ASAPbio Fellow, I want to highlight the impact of preprints, both via personal stories and in a broader community setting. I also want to understand more about preprint hesitancy and steps to overcome those.
Ask me about...
Crocheting, Open Field Collective (a citizen-science initiative that I am a part of), foldscope (the paper microscope that every one should have!), science outreach.