Devika Kumar, B.S.

Devika Kumar, B.S., began her research journey at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center while she was still in college. Over the next four years, including two summers supported by fellowships, she further immersed herself in research, gaining invaluable experience in scientific inquiry and collaboration. In addition to her research, she participated in clinical experiences and held leadership roles in various organizations.

During the summer after her sophomore year, Devika completed an internship at the Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics at the National Institute on Aging (NIA), where she explored ribosome collisions and mRNA decay in human cells using long-read nanopore sequencing. The following summer, she interned at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), focusing on the mechanisms of resistance in anaplastic thyroid cancer. As a postbaccalaureate fellow, Devika joined the Pediatric Translational Research Branch at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), where she pursued a broader range of research interests with a clinical emphasis.