Category: Q&A

Student Spotlight: Alexa Mallar ’27

Computer science and molecular biology major Alexa Mallar ’27 has a passion for the visual, pursuing her love of art while also working as an undergraduate researcher in the Cheeseman Lab.

Mark Sullivan | Spectrum
June 4, 2025

“Visual art has been a passion and a core part of my identity since before attending MIT,” says Alexa Mallar ’27, a computer science and molecular biology major from Miami who is a recipient of the Norman L. Greenman (1944) Memorial Scholarship.

As an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Iain Cheeseman, MIT professor of biology and member of the Whitehead Institute, she helps develop computational tools for biological data analysis. Outside the lab, Mallar pursues her love of art, creating detailed graphite pieces in a hyperrealistic-surrealist style and experimenting with various media, including color pencil, charcoal, and multimedia sculpture, sharing her work on Instagram. Expanding her creative interests, she has explored 3-D printing through MIT MakerLodge, has taken 21T.101 Intro to Acting, and is taking 21W.756 Reading and Writing poetry in spring 2025. “Through visual and performing arts and creative writing, I continue to find new ways to express my creativity and grow as an artist,” she says.

What inspires you about creating art?

It’s a multitude of things. It’s a technical fascination with capturing details on a piece of paper and trying really hard to make it look like a photograph. There’s the enjoyment of the technical aspects of the task. There’s also an intellectual satisfaction that comes with creating art.  I like incorporating surrealism into my work often because it lends itself to creating more visual meaning than a purely realistic piece would; there are several artists I follow and try to incorporate aspects of their work into mine, trying different things. There’s the experimental value of trying different media and artistic styles. I love exploring. I love expressing new ideas. Art is really a great way to do it.

Is there a connection between what you do as a scientist and as an artist?

The nature of my art is very visual, and I think about what I do in computer science or in research now in a very visual way. I map a diagram in my head of input and output. Anything I do is inherently visualized.

Sometimes the connection goes the other way—my interest in math and science bleeds into my art. Designing counterweights to balance sculptures or geometrically mapping out perspective and proportions are a few examples. I also love sneaking in little “easter eggs.” A few years ago, I created a piece featuring a woman with a third eye and a tree-branch crown, where the branching levels followed the Fibonacci sequence.

What is the story behind the mermaid drawings on your Instagram page?

“There’s an event every May called MerMay. Artists on Instagram will do successive drawings of different mermaids based on prompts. I wanted to join in, so I designed my own mermaid. I just started by imagining her face, and it evolved into her holding an orb I called the Eye of the Sea. It was really fun.”

After college, will you be pursuing both science and art?

“That’s a good question. I kind of have a 30-degree angle I’m heading in, not a specific path. I know that I will keep drawing in my free time, and the creative thinking and visualization skills will bleed into any other part of my work that I do, whether that be in computer science or research. Maybe designing a front end is where my creative spirit will contribute to the computer science work that I do.

“I plan to work for Amazon [in summer 2025], having received a return offer after working there last summer. I’m getting a sense of the different environments I could go to. If I can find a way to combine [art and career] I will. I’ll find a way to do as many things as I can that interest me.”

How has your MIT experience helped you on your path?

“It has been an amazing resource. MIT offers so many different classes and interdisciplinary opportunities. I was able to explore entrepreneurship through the Martin Trust Center at MIT, enrolling in the Undergraduate Engineering Entrepreneurship Certificate program. That’s one avenue I wouldn’t have been able to explore otherwise without MIT. Acting is not something I would have even tried before having the opportunity to do it at MIT. I’m rediscovering my love for creative writing through classes at MIT, and I’m really enjoying it. If I hadn’t been able to fit a poetry workshop into my class schedule, I probably wouldn’t be writing nearly as much this semester. I’m really glad I have that opportunity.

“MIT is in an amazing spot for someone in my specific major, with the huge presence of biotech in Cambridge. This is an optimal place for both computer science and biological research. We have the Whitehead Institute, Pfizer, Moderna, all within walking distance of campus. There’s a lot to explore, an intersection of interests, and I really appreciate that is available to me at MIT.”

Student spotlight: Aria Eppinger ’24

The multitalented member of the varsity swim team graduated with her undergraduate degree in computer science and molecular biology in 2024 and will complete her MEng this month.

Jane Halpern | Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
May 9, 2025

This interview is part of a series of short interviews from the MIT Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, called Student Spotlights. Each spotlight features a student answering their choice of questions about themselves and life at MIT. Today’s interviewee, Aria Eppinger ’24, graduated with her undergraduate degree in Course 6-7 (Computer Science and Molecular Biology) last spring. This spring, she will complete her MEng in 6-7. Her thesis, supervised by Ford Professor of Engineering Doug Lauffenburger in the Department of Biological Engineering, investigates the biological underpinnings of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm birth and preeclampsia, by applying polytope-fitting algorithms.

Q: Tell us about one teacher from your past who had an influence on the person you’ve become.

A: There are many teachers who had a large impact on my trajectory. I would first like to thank my elementary and middle school teachers for imbuing in me a love of learning. I would also like to thank my high school teachers for not only teaching me the foundations of writing strong arguments, programming, and designing experiments, but also instilling in me the importance of being a balanced person. It can be tempting to be ruled by studies or work, especially when learning and working are so fun. My high school teachers encouraged me to pursue my hobbies, make memories with friends, and spend time with family. As life continues to be hectic, I’m so grateful for this lesson (even if I’m still working on mastering it).

Q: Describe one conversation that changed the trajectory of your life.

A: A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to chat with Warren Buffett. I was nervous at first, but soon put to ease by his descriptions of his favorite foods — hamburgers, French fries, and ice cream — and his hitchhiking stories. His kindness impressed and inspired me, which is something I carry with me and aim to emulate all these years later.

Q: Do you have any pets?

A: I have one dog who lives at home with my parents. Dodger, named after “Artful Dodger” in Oliver Twist, is as mischievous as beagles tend to be. We adopted him from a rescue shelter when I was in elementary school.

Q: Are you a re-reader or a re-watcher — and if so, what are your comfort books, shows, or movies?

A: I don’t re-read many books or re-watch many movies, but I never tire of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” I bought myself an ornately bound copy when I was interning in New York City last summer. Austen’s other novels, especially “Sense and Sensibility,” “Persuasion,” and “Emma,” are also favorites, and I’ve seen a fair number of their movie and miniseries adaptations. My favorite adaptation is the 1995 BBC production of “Pride and Prejudice” because of the cohesion with the original book and the casting of the leads, as well as the touches and plot derivations added by the producer and director to bring the work to modern audiences. The adaptation is quite long, but I have fond memories of re-watching it with some fellow Austinites at MIT.

Q: If you had to teach a really in-depth class about one niche topic, what would you pick?

A: There are two types of people in the world: those who eat to live, and those who live to eat. As one of the latter, I would have to teach some sort of in-depth class on food. Perhaps I would teach the science behind baking chocolate cake, or churning the perfect ice cream. Or maybe I would teach the biochemistry of digesting. In any case, I would have to have lots of hands-on demos and reserve plenty for taste-testing!

Q: What was the last thing you changed your mind about?

A: Brisket! I never was a big fan of brisket until I went to a Texas BBQ restaurant near campus, The Smoke Shop BBQ. Growing up, I had never had true BBQ, so I was quite skeptical. However, I enjoyed not only the brisket but also the other dishes. The Brussels sprouts with caramelized onions is probably my favorite dish, but it feels like a crime to say that about a BBQ place!

Q: What are you looking forward to about life after graduation? What do you think you’ll miss about MIT?

A: I’m looking forward to new adventures after graduation, including working in New York City and traveling to new places. I cross-registered to take Intensive Italian at Harvard this semester and am planning a trip to Italy to practice my Italian, see the historic sites, visit the Vatican, and taste the food. Non vedo l’ora di viaggiare all’Italia! [I can’t wait to travel to Italy!]

While I’m excited for what lies ahead, I will miss MIT. What a joy it is to spend most of the day learning information from a fire hose, taking a class on a foreign topic because the course catalog description looked fun, talking to people whose viewpoint is very similar or very different from my own, and making friends that will last a lifetime.

Growing to greatness: Professor Mary Gehring on plant epigenetics and becoming an HHMI Investigator

From the intricacies of plant reproduction to genome-wide analyses, Gehring’s lab delves deep into the epigenetic mechanisms shaping plant biology.

Jayashabari Shankar and Alex Tang | The Tech
September 5, 2024

Dr. Mary Gehring is a professor of biology at MIT and a core member of the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research. Her research focuses on how epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation influence gene regulation during plant reproduction and seed development in the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana. In the classroom, she teaches genetics (7.03), a required course for biology and biological engineering majors.

With her recent appointment as an Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) investigator, Gehring joins an elite legion of HHMI investigators at the Institute. New cohorts of investigators are only announced once every three years, and they receive $11 million in funding over a seven year term (which can be renewed). Three other MIT faculty received HHMI appointments this year: Gene-Wei Li, associate professor of biology, and brain and cognitive sciences professors Mehrdad Jazayeri and Steven Flavell.

Here, she shares her lab’s research, journey into plant biology, and what she values in undergraduate researchers.

TT: What does your lab conduct research in, and how has being named an HHMI investigator changed your plans, if at all?

My lab focuses on plant biology, particularly on how epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation affect gene regulation in plants, especially during reproduction and seed development. We mostly work with Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant, but we’re also exploring other plant systems.

A typical day in the lab can vary, but it often starts with checking on our plants in the greenhouse. Depending on the day, we might pollinate plants for genetic crosses or genotyping them by isolating DNA and performing PCR. We’re particularly focused on understanding gene expression within seeds: we isolate different seed tissues, sort nuclei based on their properties, and then perform RNA sequencing. We also do a lot of chromatin profiling, histone modifications and DNA methylation analyses across the genome. Since much of our work is genome-wide, bioinformatics plays a big role in our research, with a significant amount of time spent on analyzing data.

It’s still sinking in, but being named an HHMI investigator certainly provides a new level of freedom. It allows us to pursue ideas without the constraints of specific grant funding, which is incredibly liberating. We’re considering expanding our research into new areas beyond epigenetics, like genome structure and chromosome dosage changes, while sticking with plant biology. This recognition has encouraged us to think bigger and explore new directions in our work.

TT: How far back do these interests extend for you?

My interest in plant biology started during my undergraduate years. I majored in biology and was eager to get involved in research. My real fascination with plants began when a new professor, with a background in plant biology, came to my school. I took her course on plant growth and development, which I found incredibly exciting. I was drawn to how plants communicate within their tissues and with each other. This led me to work on a research project for two years, culminating in a senior thesis on root development. After college, I took a year off to work in environmental consulting before heading to graduate school in Plant Biology at UC Berkeley.

TT: What perspectives and characteristics do you appreciate in undergraduate researchers?

Whether it’s undergraduates or postdocs, I value curiosity and dedication. For undergraduates, especially those in UROPs, it’s crucial that they are genuinely interested in the research and willing to ask questions when they don’t understand something. Balancing research with coursework and extracurriculars at MIT is challenging, so I also look for students who can manage their time well. It’s about being curious, dedicated, and communicative.

I hope there are students at MIT who are excited about plant research. It’s a vital area of biology, especially with the growing focus on climate change. While there isn’t a large presence of plant biology at MIT yet, I’m hopeful that it will expand in the coming years, and I’d love to see more students getting involved in this important field.

Q&A: Pulin Li on recreating development in the lab

In the whirlwind of activity that occurs simultaneously in a developing embryo, it can be difficult for scientists to pinpoint critical moments of a particular trait. In this Q&A, Pulin Li discusses how her lab ventures beyond mere observation to actually engineer developmental events in a petri dish, and why this approach is vital for understanding health and disease more broadly.

Shafaq Zia | Whitehead Institute
May 1, 2024
Student spotlight: Victory Yinka-Banjo (6-7)

The junior, who is majoring in computer science and molecular biology, wants to “make it a norm to lift others as I continue to climb.”

March 27, 2024
Meet a Whitehead Postdoc: Brad Wierbowski (Bartel Lab)

Brad Wierbowski is a postdoc in Whitehead Institute Member David Bartel’s lab studying the turnover of messenger RNAs.

March 28, 2024
Video: Conversations with Scientists: Robert T. Sauer

Robert “Bob” Sauer, the Salvador E. Luria Professor of Biology, discusses his life leading up to joining MIT in the Department of Biology, the unconventional timing of acquiring his PhD, formative moments as a mentor, and how research approaches have changed since he joined the department.

March 21, 2024
Q&A: Phillip Sharp and Amy Brand on the future of open-access publishing

An MIT-based white paper identifies leading questions in the quest to make open-access publications sustainable.

Peter Dizikes | MIT News
November 30, 2023
Posted in Q&A