Elissa is an undergraduate research assistant at the McLean lab and carries out various experiments and protocols such as 16S metagenomic sequencing and DNA extractions. She is currently a senior at the University of Washington, graduating this Spring with a BS in Biochemistry. Elissa has always had an interest in research since the start of her undergraduate career, and will go on to continue Oral Health Research in dental school at the University of Washington School of Dentistry next Fall. Outside of school and the lab, Elissa greatly enjoys rock climbing and hiking.