Lia D'Alessandro

Thesis lab: Meenakshi Rao

Rotation labs: Lisa Goodrich, Meenakshi Rao, Maria Lehtinen

For me, home is: Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Prior degree(s): B.A. Double Major in Biology and Dance (Swarthmore College)

Research experience before PiN: Undergraduate research in Dr. Dawn Carone’s lab studying aberrant gene expression exclusive to cancer, specifically identifying cell division defects due to Human Satellite II expression. After graduating, joined Dr. Douglas Wallace’s lab at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia exploring the biological mechanisms underlying MEPAN syndrome, a rare neurometabolomic disorder resulting in motor dysfunction. Following, became a trainee in Harvard’s Program in Neuroscience Post-Baccalaureate (PiNBAC) program in Dr. Beth Stevens’ and Ben Deverman’s labs at the Broad Institute to combine viral and genetic techniques to develop microglia-targeting AAVs.

Current research interests: Neuroimmunology, Neurometabolomics, Molecular Neuroscience, Glia Biology, Homeostasis, Mitochondria

Interests outside lab: Dance, Weightlifting, Baking, Crocheting, Bullet Journaling, Yoga & Pilates