Research Genetic Counselor   

Annika Gillam is a licensed and board certified genetic counselor who works as the research genetic counselor for the Beleford Lab. She completed her undergraduate training at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling in New York at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS). While at UCLA, she completed an internship with the "Bruins in Genomics" program, where she analyzed mouse genome-wide association (GWAS) data to elucidate candidate genes for anxiety in mice. Her graduate training at ISMMS included extensive training in research ethics, collection of family and medical histories, consenting patients for genetic testing or research, and completion of a research thesis. She also works as a clinical genetic counselor at the UC Davis MIND Institute. She is thrilled to support the Beleford lab by applying her genetic counseling skills in the genetics research world. When she's not at work, she enjoys podcasts on long walks, painting, and devouring novels like they're junk food.