Lilia earned her M.S. in Tumor Biology from Georgetown University (’25), following her B.S. in Biotechnology (honors, ’24) from Indiana University Bloomington, where she also minored in International Studies (Global Health) and French. Her honors thesis, Modulation of Bile Acid Homeostasis via PFOA Exposure in Pancreatic Cancer (PDAC), reflected her early commitment to cancer research. This was supplemented by her graduate research investigating Gli1 and Shh signaling in Shh-medulloblastoma. Passionate about scientific education, she also spent several semesters as a teaching assistant for foundational and molecular biology courses.
Lilia’s scientific interests center on the (epi)genetic and transcriptomic mechanisms underlying disease, with the goal of improving patient outcomes through early diagnosis and personalized medicine. She aspires to pursue doctoral training and a career in academia, where she can uncover novel biomarkers and explore epigenetic vulnerabilites. Lilia envisions her career -- and life's purpose -- as both a platform for discovery and a means to mentor the next generation of scientists.
A lover of print magazines, research as a hobby (Wikipedia rabbit holes!), espresso, third-spaces, fashion & long, long walks.