JJ Miranda

JJ Miranda is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Barnard College, where he leads the Miranda Lab. His research focuses on virology, cancer biology, and infectious disease surveillance, particularly the role of viral infections in oncogenesis and environmental virus monitoring. He is affiliated with the New York Genome Center and serves as Senior Editor of the journal Microbiology Spectrum.

• BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Reed College
• PhD in Biochemistry from Harvard University

His lab investigates how viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) contribute to cancer development, supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Additionally, his team pioneers wastewater surveillance techniques for respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, collaborating with experts in virology, environmental science, and public health. Recent publications highlight advancements in single-cell transcriptomics, viral reactivation mechanisms, and practical applications of wastewater analysis.

The lab also explores thermal stress effects on honey bee digestion and molecular structures related to viral gene regulation. These studies span molecular genetics, environmental monitoring, and translational medicine, aiming to define new paradigms for perturbing viral infections and cancer progression.

Advisees and team members include undergraduate researchers Abigail Schreier, Nicole Rondeau, and Lina Ariyan, who have contributed to wastewater surveillance projects and cancer virology research. The lab emphasizes undergraduate education through novel discovery in a supportive environment, with active involvement in campus health initiatives during the pandemic.

Labs and teams: The Miranda Lab is based in Milbank Hall at Barnard College, with lab spaces in rooms 416E, 416F, 416M, and 418E. The lab collaborates closely with the Mailloux Lab, Barnard’s Environmental Science Department, and Columbia University’s Morningside campus.