The Guzzo Lab @ UTSC
Get to Know the Guzzo Lab Team!
Dr. Christina Guzzo
Principal Investigator
Dr. Guzzo completed her BScH (Life Sciences) at Queen’s University where she first cultivated a passion for HIV/AIDS outreach and education, sparked by her repeated travels to Kenya with a student-led charitable organization. She continued her studies at Queen’s under the mentorship of Dr. Katrina Gee to receive her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology, with research focused on identifying novel functions of interleukin-27 (IL-27) in monocyte biology and HIV infection.
She trained as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, under the mentorship of Drs. Anthony Fauci and Paolo Lusso where her research had two main branches:
1. The characterization of a unique anti-HIV chemokine (lymphotactin/XCL1)
2. The discovery of human integrin alpha 4 beta 7 being incorporated into the external envelope of the HIV-1 virus.
When she is not in the lab you’ll likely find her running along Lake Ontario, playing in a park with her family, or baking something delicious!
STAFF
Aiman Farheen
Laboratory Technician
Aiman earned her Honours Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Toronto. Subsequently, she completed her Master's degree in the Department of Molecular Genetics at the same institution, where she conducted a functional genomic assessment of the genes involved in the morphogenesis of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans in response to host relevant conditions. When she's not in the lab, you’ll likely find her mentoring students, participating in community outreach programs, or conducting experiments in the kitchen!
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Arvin Persaud
PhD Candidate
With an interest in virology/immunology, Arvin joined the Lab in 2018 as an undergraduate student, where he completed a research study course, two senior theses, and has been awarded two NSERC USRAs. After a year working as a research assistant, Arvin continues as a PhD student in the lab. Outside of the lab, Arvin enjoys running, hiking, and catching up on crime TV!
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Deepa Chaphekar
PhD Candidate
Deepa completed her M.Sc. in Virology from the National Institute of Virology India and has always had a passion for research in virology and molecular biology. Before joining the Guzzo lab as a PhD student, she has worked as a research assistant in multiple research institutes on projects involving virology, microbiology, and molecular biology and also as a quality control executive for a viral vaccine company. As a part of her thesis, she plans to develop cell culture models mimicking vivo infection to study the impact of host proteins present on HIV on its pathogenicity.
Claire Fernandes
PhD Candidate
Claire completed her HBSc at the University of Toronto Scarborough, with a specialist in Human Biology. Inspired by her introduction to Flow Cytometry during her undergraduate degree, she became fascinated by the emerging field of Flow Virometry being spearheaded in the Guzzo Lab. After receiving an NSERC USRA in the summer of 2022, she began her PhD studies in fall 2023. Outside of school, Claire enjoys walking her dog (Clifford), in the Rouge Valley and playing the cello at her local retirement centre, or swimming at the local beach during the summertime.
Renee Wagner
MSc Candidate
Renee graduated from UTSC in 2025 with an HBSc in Human Biology and Psychology. She became fascinated by virology and immunology during her undergraduate studies and, through her work as a research assistant and involvement in multiple healthcare and science outreach initiatives, developed a strong interest in pursuing research in these fields. This passion inspired her to join the Guzzo Lab as an MSc student. Outside the lab, Renee enjoys baking, skiing, and playing tennis.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Rubesan Christian Joy Rajakumar
Undergraduate Student (BIOD98)
Rubesan is a fourth-year undergraduate student studying human biology and molecular biology, immunology & disease. He is also the president of UTSC’s Rare Diseases Foundation, where he advocates for education, awareness, and fundraising for rare disease research. Inspired by the principles of virology course, Rubesan grew curious about HIV pathogenesis and is currently studying human proteins on the surface of HIV virus particles through a supervised research study course in the Guzzo lab. Outside the lab, he volunteers at local hospitals, enjoys fitness training, and collects watches!
Nhien Dinh
Undergraduate Student (BIOD99)
Nhien is a fourth-year undergraduate student doing a specialist in Biological and Medicinal Chemistry. She completed a 2025 Summer Fellowship under the PRECISE platform, and loved the experience learning about the Influenza Virus. She is currently continuing to work on a research project in the lab through the undergraduate thesis program. Beyond academic endeavors, she’s an avid social event planner and loves bringing people together, she loves the outdoors and her favorite artist is Eminem!
CO-OP STUDENT
Lisa Huynh
Co-op Student
Lisa is a high school co-op student completing a placement at The Guzzo Lab. She has a strong interest in biology and data analysis, and is eager to gain hands-on experience in a research setting by shadowing experiments and contributing to laboratory projects. Through this placement, she hopes to deepen her understanding of infectious diseases and the role of research in advancing public health. In her free time, Lisa enjoys reading, baking, and trying out different video games!