Marina Monsivais

SHe/hER/hERS

Graduate Student - Graduate Student, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, G3

Email: marinamonsivais@fas.harvard.edu

Marina completed her undergraduate studies at MIT, graduating in 2022 with degrees in Chemistry and Biology. She began her first research experience in Professor John Gabrieli’s behavioral neuroscience lab, where she developed MEG & fMRI screening programs to establish activity patterns in the left fusiform gyrus in recognition of morpheme/phoneme pairs. Following this, she joined the lab of Professor Lindsay Case and worked to characterize the binding interactions of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) domains and the mechanisms by which FAK liquid-liquid phase separates (LLPS). 

Determined to pop her undergraduate academic bubble, Marina decided to move a mile upriver for her graduate studies. Currently, Marina is interested in the use of extracellular vesicles in biofilm communication and quorum sensing, using biochemical and biophysical techniques to explore the intricacies of bacterial signaling.

Outside of lab, Marina is involved in the Chemistry Department’s Graduate Student and Postdoc Council (GPC) and in Harvard Women in Chemistry (HWIC). She enjoys volunteering, especially working with children, and creating community through cooking for friends & family. She is also an avid patron of the arts; you can find her at local ballets, live music performances, art festivals, and Boston night markets.