Mackenzie O'Brien

I am a UC Berkeley graduate with experience in a CLIA-certified flow cytometry laboratory, where I processed samples of bone marrow, peripheral blood, tissue, and fluid for lymphoma/leukemia diagnostics. I aspire to grow as a scientist to contribute to innovative work that improves the health of my community and beyond.

My work as a flow cytometry clinical lab assistant taught me that thoughtful problem-solving is essential for reliable patient care and accurate cancer diagnostics. As a Medical Assistant, I deepened my passion for improving access to reproductive healthcare. Driven by a desire to improve health equity through innovation, I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to a team focused on advancing medicine through fundamental discoveries.

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 2022. My undergraduate coursework in Integrative Biology challenged me to approach the study of biological systems by incorporating a diversity of disciplines (genetics, ecology, physiology, and evolution) to explore biology’s complexity. Extensive lab work required sustained attention and instilled in me a commitment to rigorous analysis and critical thinking in discovery-based classes.