Amanda Bekkala

Amanda earned a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with Honors at Michigan Technological University in 2022. While at Michigan Tech, she worked in several labs and teaching positions on and off campus. These labs have given her experience working with model organisms for toxicity studies, cell culture and viral propagation, cancer genetics, and pathogen detection via genomic techniques. Her research experience ranges from working with the government facility, FDA National Center for Toxicological Research, to academic settings in Michigan. While participating in the MI-SAPPHIRE program, she worked to improve the Upper Peninsula public health departments' collaboration with research intuitions for future pandemic preparedness in rural communities. After graduating from Michigan Tech, she helped as a lab technician in the laboratory of Dr. Caryn Heldt developing Influenza B virus purification analytical methods for the continuous aqueous two-phase vaccine development system using biochemical and chemical engineering techniques and principles. She joined the University of Michigan in 2023 for her graduate studies in Immunology to pursue a career in translational research.