Maryam joined the Kwon Lab as a postdoctoral fellow in January 2025. She earned her Ph.D. in Pathobiology from Brown University, where she studied retinoic acid metabolism in both the mammalian host and its microbiome, discovering that gut bacteria possess intrinsic vitamin A metabolic capacities and can enhance the pool of retinoids available to the host. In the Kwon Lab, Maryam studies how immune and microbial cues regulate vitamin A metabolism in the context of HIV infection. Her research combines gnotobiotic mouse models, microbiome manipulation, and molecular immunology to uncover mechanisms linking microbial composition to nutrient metabolism and immune function. Outside the lab, Maryam enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, traveling, and hiking with her husky, Kayuh.