Stefania joined the Cai Lab following the completion of her Integrated Master of Biological Sciences (MBiolSci) degree in Genetics and Molecular Cell Biology, at the University of Sheffield. Her academic background and previous research centered on synthetic biology, enzymology, and computational biology, with a focus on microbial systems, particularly yeast and bacteria.

She brings an interdisciplinary skill set that combines hands-on molecular biology with computational expertise in data analysis and bioinformatics. At the Cai Lab, she is applying this background to support the automation of laboratory workflows and to help develop an integrated pipeline for constructing and expanding synthetic artificial neochromosomes. Her work aims to enhance experimental efficiency, reproducibility, and data integration across the research process. Stefania is especially interested in the intersection of high-throughput biology and computational design, and is excited to contribute to the lab’s collaborative and innovative environment.

Outside of the lab, Stefania enjoys a variety of creative and active pursuits. She is an avid bread baker and enjoys experimenting with different techniques and flavours. In her downtime, she also enjoys painting and sewing, as well as embroidery; activities that allow her to express her creativity and attention to detail. She also values staying active through running, hiking, and resistance training.