Research Staff Spotlight: Jennifer Alvarez
Jennifer Alvarez's passion for neuroscience extends from the small details to the big picture. “I have always been interested in neural circuits, mediators and receptors,” she explains. “But also, I’m interested in knowing how disruptions from the maternal to the fetal genome can lead to the development of diseases like Alzheimer’s in the offspring.”
Jennifer’s interest in the brain first led her to study psychology at University of California San Diego. “Research interested me, so I joined a behavioral neuroscience lab where I studied drug and alcohol addiction to understand how these factors mediated goal-oriented behavior and ultimately disrupted neural circuits.”
After graduation, Jennifer decided she wanted to build further experience in neuroscience and pursue a PhD. She soon discovered the lab of CHLA’s Alexandre Bonnin, PhD, where she now works as an Associate Research Specialist in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
“My current project is focused on the placenta and the goal is essentially to understand maternal and fetal transport and placental metabolism.” Specifically, Jennifer is investigating the prostaglandin pathway and molecules such as PGE2 and PGH2. “We want to understand how maternal immune activation decreases parasite coverage, or the accumulation of parasites in placental tissue, in the placenta and the fetal brain, and thus how it’s going to affect development,” she says.
The work is technically demanding and intricate, but Jennifer appreciates the constant opportunities for learning. “As a first-generation student, it’s been a bit difficult navigating the process of higher education and laboratory jobs,” she explains. “But everyone at CHLA has been super welcoming and they encourage constant learning and work to foster a sense of community within science, which I really appreciate.”
Outside of her work, Jennifer likes to spend time at the beach, take in concerts, and explore new coffee shops.
