Julea Vlassakis

Julea Vlassakis is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering at Rice University and a CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research. Her lab, the Microtechnologies Laboratory for Pediatric Oncology, focuses on developing micro and nanoscale technologies to study protein interactions in pediatric cancers like Ewing sarcoma. She leads a multidisciplinary team collaborating with Texas Medical Center researchers to advance targeted therapies and translational research.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley (2012-2018)
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Herr Lab, UC Berkeley (2018-2021)
• B.A. in Chemistry and Physics, Smith College (2012)

Research Interests:
Her work integrates micro/nanoengineering, systems biology, and biophysics to address challenges in pediatric oncology. Key areas include single-cell analysis of metastasis signatures, design of micro-scale protein separation tools, and structural studies of fusion oncoproteins. The lab’s innovations aim to identify druggable targets and improve treatment precision.

Grants & Awards:

• $2M CPRIT Grant (2021-2026)
• NIH Director's New Innovator Award (2023)
• Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award (2020-2025)

Advising & Team:
Dr. Vlassakis mentors a diverse team including PhD students (e.g., Alison Lao, Neica Joseph) and master’s students (e.g., Carla). Her lab collaborates with clinicians to bridge basic science and clinical impact.

Labs & Facilities:
The lab is located in BRC 850, Rice University, with access to advanced microscopy, microfluidics, and single-molecule analysis tools. Research focuses on pediatric cancer heterogeneity and therapeutic innovation.