When Marjannie Eloi studies science – in particular the immune system – she is inspired. Eloi’s goal is to help decipher the etiology of diseases and discover what role the immune system plays in the disease.

Eloi first visited UC Davis on STEM Preview Day. After visiting the campus and seeing the many opportunities offered, she knew UC Davis was her top choice for a graduate education. UC Davis’s rich and stimulating research environment, as well as the animal model research conducted, amazed Eloi. “I chose UC Davis to purse my Ph.D. in immunology because I was impressed by the vast research being conducted on host-pathogen interactions and autoimmune diseases,” says Eloi.

A benefit of graduate education at UC Davis is the ample interdisciplinary research that is conducted on and off campus. “I collaborate with professors and students from various disciplines and in turn develop a well-rounded education,” says Eloi. “Working in the laboratory, I have the opportunity to study both the neurological, as well as the immunological aspects of autism, which is incredibly exciting.”

Eloi believes that earning her doctoral degree from UC Davis gives her the opportunity to contribute to society as a scientist. Upon completion, she plans to give back to the community and mentor students to reach goals and make changes – one scientific discovery at a time.