Undergraduate university: University of Michigan (B.S in biology)

Thesis: The combined effect of maternal obesity and autism spectrum disorder-associated genetic mutations on neurodevelopment

Mentor: Heidi Lempradl, Ph.D.

Experience: After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2012, Ellen worked for three years at MPI Research in their Clinical Medicine department. In 2016, she transitioned to ViCapsys, a company associated with the University of Georgia working with β islet stem cell transplantation for diabetes treatments. Shortly after, Ellen began working solely for the university, where she helped set up a new core facility in coordination with various laboratories in the Center for Vaccines and Immunology. Finally, in the fall of 2018, Ellen joined Dr. Heidi Lempradl at VAI; they have focused on acute and intergenerational effects of environmental chemicals in Drosophila. Most recently, Ellen has been leading a project identifying genes in Drosophila that may play a role in autism spectrum disorder.

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Hobbies: Hiking, paddleboarding, baking and bugging my dog to do all of these things with me