Elena was a visiting scholar in the lab from June 2017 to May 2018 under the PennPREP post-baccalaureate program. She graduated from at Calumet College of Saint Joseph with a B.S. in Biomedical Science. Elena performed neurodegenerative disease research at Calumet College of Saint Joseph and at the University of Michigan with Peter Todd. She is a first-generation college graduate from Chicago. In the past, Elena ran a few Chicago marathons, but now, during her free time, she likes to go on Netflix marathons. Elena went on to pursue her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago.