I am a curly haired bioengineer, creative writer, and advocate for women in science.
Originally from Minnesota, I earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2015 where I gained an appreciation for cheese curds and a tolerance for below-freezing temperatures.
After graduation I moved to the east coast and began my PhD training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the Department of Bioengineering. I defended my thesis in January 2021 under the mentorships of Forest White and Doug Lauffenburger, integrating phosphoproteomics, immunopeptidomics and systems biology to study cancer. My primary focus is on developing new quantitative mass spectrometry-based methods to probe unanswered biological questions surrounding cell signaling and antigen presentation dynamics on MHC molecules.
From a young age I have been involved in the performing arts and developed a passion for creatively engaging audiences, whether that be from a stage or in a scientific talk. During my time at MIT, I trained as a MIT Communication Lab Fellow, coaching students on communication best practices, and was the founding student editor of the MIT Graduate Admissions Blog.
Following my time at MIT, I began my current position as a Scientist in the Proteomics team at BioNTech US in Cambridge, MA in March, 2021. At BioNTech, I focus on applying traditional proteomics and immunopeptidomics methodologies to discovery and validate therapeutic targets in a range of oncology and infectious disease applications.
Outside of lab you can find me exploring restaurants in nearby neighborhoods, cheering for Wisconsin sports, or dreaming of my next travel destination.