Junior Specialist   

Shira Blieden is the lab's junior specialist. Originally from Irvine, California, she completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Davis. She graduated in June of 2023, majoring in Genetics and Genomics with a minor in Global Disease Biology. At the Beleford Lab, Shira keeps track of the lab's orders and spending, as well as participates and leads research projects pertaining to the binding of PTPN14 and SMAD4. Outside of work, she likes to read, crochet, and enjoy the outdoors.