Lia is a Neuroscience PhD candidate in the O’Banion Lab at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. Her research focuses on elucidating sex-specific, cell-intrinsic properties of microglia, the brain’s resident immune cells, in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). To address these questions, she employs microglial transplantation as a mechanistic tool. She also investigates how endogenous hormonal fluctuations across the rodent estrous cycle influence microglial transcriptomics and AD pathology. Her broader interests center on microglial biology and cell identity, particularly their roles in neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, as well as the therapeutic potential of microglial replacement strategies. She views the study of sex as a biological variable as essential to advancing precision medicine and has therefore made it a central component of her research program. Looking ahead, she aims to pursue postdoctoral training to further develop her technical expertise and deepen her focus on microglial biology.