Crystal Lovato

A PhD student in the Immunology department of The Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Crystal Lovato seeks to understand the immune system as it pertains to autoimmunity. With her background in Microbiology and personal connections to the challenges disease presents, she hopes to add to the body of knowledge that feeds treatment options of autoimmune diseases. Being a first generation, low-income, Latina student, she also is an advocate for accessible and affordable healthcare and education to give people in disadvantaged communities the hope and compassion it takes to persevere through health struggles. She hopes to grow as a student and a mentor and learn more about the joys of teaching and research. Community education is a large part of how she achieved her goals of receiving bachelor’s degrees in microbiology and music and starting her PhD studies at WashU. She hopes to pay it forward through acts of service and mentorship while completing her studies.