Research Assistant and UW Fellow for Academic Excellence

PhD in Pathobiology 

Please tell us a bit about yourself. 

I was born and raised here in Seattle, and received my Bachelor of Science in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology with a minor in biological ethics from the University of Washington. During my undergraduate studies, I was an undergraduate research assistant in the lab of Dr. Georg Seelig at the UW for three years, where I worked on optimizing a Yeast-2-Hybrid protocol. After graduating, I went to complete a post-baccalaureate scholar program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in the lab of Dr. M. Juliana McElrath. My post-baccalaureate project focused on characterizing phenotypic similarities between antigen-specific B cells that produce HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies elicited by vaccine administration. My research interests lie mainly in B cell and developmental immunology, virology, viral pathogenesis, and gene therapy.

Why did you decide to attend the UW for graduate school?

As a native Seattleite and UW undergraduate Alumna, there didn't seem to be a better place for me to be. The UW is an amazing school with an impressive amount of cutting edge research, and I feel so lucky to be able to continue my education here. I ultimately chose this specific program for its unique inclusion of global health in the requirements of the program as it ties into my passions of biological ethics and public health.

What are your research interests and career goals? 

I dream of being a principal investigator in my own laboratory and becoming a professor.

When you aren't studying, where is your favorite place to hangout in Seattle?

Running along the Burke Gilman trail!