Program: Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate Student
Year Entered: 2019
Defense Year: 2025
Thesis Advisor: Ingunn Stromnes (lab website)
Dissertation Title: "Engagement of anti-tumor T cells to overcome pancreatic cancer immune evasion"

Research: Tumor cell loss of MHC class I remains is a critical barrier to successful immunotherapy. The goal of my research is to understand immune evasion of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) and identify immune cell populations that either promote tumorigenesis or are critical for the anti-tumor immune response in MHC class I loss variants. Specifically, using an orthotopic model of PDA that expresses the click beetle neoantigen I will investigate how loss of MHC class I expression causes tumor escape and an unsuccessful immune response. Moreover, I hope to identify therapeutically targetable immune cells and pathways that can be leveraged to induce disease remission in MHC class I loss variants of PDA.
Publications

Degrees received: 
BA, Grinnell College, 2017
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, MN, 2025

Current Position: Post-Doctoral Scholar, NCI, Pediatric Oncology Branch, Dr. Rosa Nguyen lab
Contact Info: [email protected]