Amelia Tsark, BS

PIBBS PhD rotation student

Hi, my name is Amelia, and I’m a first year PIBBS student! I actually grew up in the LA area (a small town in the SGV) but have been slowly working my way up the California coast since leaving for college. I spent my undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara (Go Gauchos!), where I was spoiled with the most beautiful sunsets, did 2 years of research on a Rac2 GTPase-linked immunodeficiency, and graduated with a B.S. in Cell and Developmental Biology. After graduation, I moseyed on up north to complete a year-long Postbaccalaureate Research Experience Program (PREP) at UC San Francisco where I defined the impact of an InDel variant within a breast cancer-associated super enhancer on oncogene regulation. After somehow surviving the SF wind, I have thankfully returned back to the warm and sunny city of LA to pursue my PhD at USC. I’m excited to experience all the joys this next curiosity-driven phase of my life will bring, and I am especially excited to work towards answering the important questions in cancer biology that first drew me into research and continue to drive me today!

Research interests: Cancer biology, oncogenic dysregulation of developmental programs, the immunosuppressive TME, and the development of therapeutics to target these processes.

Favorite food: Sushi, oyakodon, and potatoes in any and every form.

Beverage of choice and protocol for preparation: It’s me and my French press against the world since I don’t have an espresso machine, so, at home, a freshly brewed coffee with some sweet creamer. At fun coffee shops, however, an iced almond milk latte with honey and cinnamon!

Favorite lab technique: CRISPR/Cas9 (and dCas9!), flow cytometry, and IF microscopy.

Hobbies: Very long walks, not so long runs, watching movies in theaters, reading, playing soccer, trying new coffee shops, and hanging out with my sister and our dogs.