Ela is an undergraduate student at UCLA who is majoring in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. In the Plath lab, Ela is studying the role of protein complexes associated with XIST during erosion of the inactive X-chromosome in pluripotent stem cells. She aspires to earn a PhD and possibly work in the biopharmaceutical industry. Outside of the lab, Ela likes to read, paint and draw, weight-lift, go to the beach, and spend time with friends and family.