01/08/2026
An adventurer at heart, Meg Bayarsaikhan loves the outdoors—whether it’s camping in New Hampshire with her family, planning her next ski trip, or dreaming of future travels to explore new countries. Having lived in multiple countries across three continents, Meg has navigated different cultures, scientific environments, and ways of life—all while staying true to her passion for discovery.
Originally from Mongolia, Meg earned her medical degree and practiced as a physician before shifting her focus to research. She moved to Japan to pursue a PhD in immunology, spending 10 years immersed in both its scientific and social culture. Adjusting to Japan’s structured and formal social norms was a challenge as a non-native, but it shaped her adaptability. Her move to Boston a year and a half ago was another culture shift—this time, into a more outspoken, dynamic environment where she feels her open personality thrives.
In the scientific world, she’s noticed a similar contrast: research in Japan followed a more individual, hierarchical structure, while Boston fosters a highly collaborative, fast-moving community that she finds invigorating. Now a research scientist in the Idris Lab, Meg studies early immune responses to malaria infection. She is working to develop monoclonal antibodies against the disease and contribute to malaria vaccine advancements—a mission with the potential to impact millions of lives. She values the supportive and communicative environment of her lab and the flexibility that allows her to balance work and family.
Meg embraces every challenge with resilience and curiosity, applying her global perspective to both science and life.
