Emily Kounlavong, B.S.

Emily is a MDPhD student studying the tumor microenvironment in bladder cancer under the direction of Dr. William Kim. She received her undergraduate degree in chemistry at the University of Tennessee and conducted research in the lab of Dr. Bhavya Sharma to characterize neurotransmitters in neurologic diseases using surface enhance Raman spectroscopy.  After graduation, she worked in the lab of Dr. Kimryn Rathmell at Vanderbilt studying the role of epigenetic regulation on tumorigenesis in kidney cancer. Her future goals as a physician scientist are to treat cancer patients in the hospital while concurrently studying their disease in the lab. Outside of the lab, Emily volunteers at the student-run free clinic, mentors students through Advocates for Inclusion in Medicine and Science, and serves on the Lineberger Equity Council. She enjoys baking, playing with her dog, Rosemary, and watching college football.