Technical Electives at MIT: 

  • Systems Microbiology - 20.106
  • Molecular and Engineering Aspects of Biotechnology - 20.361
  • Cellular & Tissue Biomechanics - 20.310

Audrey Olshefsky

Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering, MIT, 2016

Professional Experience

Research Associate, Gene Engineering & Delivery Group, Research Department
  • Juno Therapeutics
  • Designed and constructed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell plasmids for cancer therapeutic research.
  • Optimized and performed an assay that analyzes RNA splicing in primary cells.
  • Evaluated several protein tags to detect CARs via flow cytometry.

Educational Experience

Academic: 

  • Associate advisor for underclassmen
  • 21L.S88 Cultural Encounters: Insiders and Outsiders, Prof. Resnick and Prof. Tapscott

MIT Concentration(s): 

  • Spanish Language
  • Culture and Literature

Participation in Programs: 

  • MIT Independant Activities Period Madrid
  • MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program
  • Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Program

Undergraduate Research Experiences: 

  • Department of Biological Engineering - With Dr. Natalie Kuldell, continued a project beyond 20.109 on optimizing a synthetic two-component signaling system in E. coli.
  • Chisholm Lab - Examined metabolic pathways of Prochlorococcus and worked on the development of a genetic system for Prochlorococcus. 
  • Perez Olsen Lab - designed a targeted RNA interference screen with C. elegans to map the genetic regulation of plasmalogens.

Publications/Posters: 

  • Poster - Targeted RNA Interference Screen to Map the Genetic Network of Plasmalogens in C. elegans. Fred Hutch Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, August 2011.
  • Publication - Olshefsky A*, Shehata L*, Kuldell N (2016). Site-Directed Mutagenesis to Improve Sensitivity of a Synthetic Two-Component Signaling System. PLoS ONE 11(1): e0147494. *Co-first authors.

Activities, interests and hobbies: 

MIT Varsity Sailing Team, GlobeMed at MIT, Kappa Alpha Theta, MIT First Generation Program

Additional Degrees: 

University of Washington, PhD in Bioengineering, Expected 2022