Kusuma is a PhD Candidate in the Graduate Program in Immunology, and is co-mentored by Brendan Antiochos and Erika Darrah. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University with a double major in Cellular Biology & Neuroscience and Spanish. Kusuma’s research interests involve the cellular and molecular mechanisms of autoimmunity, and her thesis project focuses on the role of CD8 T cells in rheumatoid arthritis. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Baltimore, spending time in nature, and reading.