Lily Orta joins TKL for a fall rotation

Immunity, Microbes, and Microbial Pathogenesis (IMMP) PhD student Lily Orta joins TKL for a Fall 2026 rotation. Welcome!

Lily is an Immunity, Microbes, and Microbial Pathogenesis (IMMP) PhD student in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Program (MBIDP) at UCLA. She earned her B.S. in biology and minors in global health and religious studies from Duke University. While at Duke, Lily studied TRPV4 calcium ion channels and their impact on migraine pain and inflammation. After graduation, she studied mechanisms of action of antimalarial resistance at Columbia University. Here at UCLA, Lily hopes to continue investigating microbial defenses to human interventions. Outside of the lab, she loves going to the movies (AMC A-List!), scrapbooking, and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers.