Liana Boraas

Liana is an Associate Research Scientist at the Nicoli Lab, specializing in Mechanobiology and RNA research. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University. During her doctoral studies, she conducted research on the role of the cytoskeleton in stem cell differentiation, providing insights that could enhance stem cell-based therapies. Since joining the Nicoli lab in 2018, Liana co-authored a paper in Nature Cell Biology titled “On How microRNAs Modulate the Expression of Genes Related to Tissue Stiffness”. She since then has initiated an entirely new line of research in the lab, exploring a novel post-transcriptional mechanism that regulates cell mechanics, with a specific focus on mRNA localization at focal adhesions. Her work continues to influence the fields of mechanobiology and RNA research, contributing to advancements in regenerative medicine and cellular biology. She received numerous fellowships, including the Ruth L. Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Brown Cox Fellowship, and the T32 Training Grant Postdoctoral Fellowship. For a more in-depth understanding of her research, you can watch her seminar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvkG9TUlaSw