Alan Gutierrez was a research associate from 2019-2021. He worked with Dr. Steven Reilly as a part of the ENCODE Consortium Functional Characterization Center’s efforts to develop and apply next-generation non-coding CRISPR screens. As a result, he helped optimize HCR-FlowFISH—a novel technology that identifies cis-regulatory elements in the genome. He also lead the annual holiday card for 2 years in a row (Roarin’ 20s and Brady Bunch themes) and pioneered the creation of the Alumni page on the lab website.
Alan graduated from Vassar College in 2018 with a B.A. in Biochemistry and a minor in Russian Studies. There, he conducted research on Wingless signaling regulation in Drosophila melanogaster in the Kennell lab. In addition, he was a part of the First Generation 9, a sociological research team that investigated the experiences of first generation college students at a liberal arts institution, under the guidance of Dr. Eréndira Rueda.
He now attends the Yale School of Medicine where he hopes to create a more equitable and empathetic healthcare system that bridges caring for underserved communities with genetics-based research.