Warren Alpert Physician-Scientist MD/PhD and Advanced Training Program

Melanie Martinsen (she/her/hers) grew up in Portland, Oregon, studied biomedical engineering at Boston University (Class of 2019), and worked as a Research Associate at the Broad Institute in the Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program for two years before starting in the MD PhD program at Brown. She is currently in her second year of her PhD in the Pathobiology department doing her thesis in Dr. Craig Lefort's lab. The Lefort lab studies neutrophils which are the most abundant leukocyte in a healthy individual; these cells play a critical role in host defense against bacterial and fungal infections. Melanie's research is aimed at developing conditionally-immortalized neutrophil progenitors as an off-the-shelf cellular therapy to attenuate periods of neutropenia (low neutrophil count) and neutrophil dysfunction. Her studies will elucidate the mechanisms and barriers of neutrophil progenitor engraftment, and thus have potential to significantly impact human health by bringing neutrophil progenitor cellular therapy closer to clinical development. Outside of the lab, she enjoys dancing, outdoor recreation, and playing with her cat.