Yanixa Quiñones Avilés

Yanixa is a Genetics PhD candidate in the laboratory of Dr. Mandar Muzumdar. Her thesis work focuses on dissecting molecular and phenotypical differences of KRAS variants in cancer using a multi-omits approach. She obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in Genetics and Biomedicine from the University of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla.

As a recipient of the NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein NRSA F31 pre-doctoral fellowship, Yanixa works at the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning as a Graduate Writing Lab (GWL) fellow, helping fellow graduate students navigate the fellowship application process. Her passion for providing equal access to health care and education, outreach and mentoring has driven her involvement with non-profit organizations such as HAVEN Free Clinic, New Haven Science Fair Program, and multiple student-based mentoring programs focused on increasing diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. She strongly believes that ensuring equal access to STEM opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds will allow them to reach their maximum potential, thrive in STEM, and successfully diversify the workforce.