Kayla Myers Chen

Kayla Myers Chen has a diverse work experience in the science and engineering field. Kayla began their career in 2015 as a Summer Intern at the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering. In 2016, they were a Summer Research Student at the University of Pittsburgh, an Undergraduate Researcher at Boston University, and a Math, Science and Engineering Course Tutor at Boston University Student Support Services. In 2018, they became a Graduate Student Researcher at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where they quantified Tyro3, Axl and MerTK (TAM receptors) mRNA and protein expression in human in vitro M1 and M2 macrophage models, validated human monocyte-derived and THP-1 cell line M1 and M2 macrophage polarization by flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, and established a flow cytometry protocol for quantifying efferocytosis of human prostate cancer cells by human macrophages in vitro. In 2021, they were a Discovery Intern at NextCure, Inc. and is currently a Research Scientist at Vita Therapeutics since 2022.

Kayla Myers Chen holds a Doctor of Philosophy - PhD in Pharmacology and Molecular Science from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, which they obtained between 2017 and 2022. Kayla also holds a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University, which they obtained between 2013 and 2017.