Marlenny Vargas-Cortes, BS

I graduated from Alverno College in May 2023 with a BS in Biomedical Science. As an undergraduate student, I was actively involved in research focusing on water quality and its implications for public health. My primary research objectives were to determine O-phosphate and E. coli concentrations along the Kinnikinic River to assess their compliance with EPA recommendations.

In addition to my work on water quality, I conducted antimicrobial resistance (AMR) research, in which I isolated and analyzed antibiotic-producing bacteria from soil in the Milwaukee area to combat the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens.

I joined the Zamora Lab as a Research Technologist in October 2023. My current focus is to assist in studies that aim to better understand anti-tumor immunity to enhance the immune system’s ability to target and eliminate cancer cells. Through this work, I hope to broaden my knowledge of immunology as it pertains to cancer and help advance cell-based (e.g., TCR-T cell and CAR-T cell-based) therapies for cancer.