Annelise Snyder

Dr. Annelise Snyder is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at Western Washington University (WWU), specializing in immunology and cancer biology. She joined WWU in January 2024 after postdoctoral training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and Salk Institute. Her research focuses on understanding how macrophages interact with tumor cells during brain metastasis in breast cancer, aiming to identify mechanisms to enhance immune surveillance. She is committed to mentoring students and promoting diversity in STEM through teaching and outreach.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Immunology, University of Washington (2019)
• B.A. in Biology and Chemistry, Williams College (2011)

Research Interests: Dr. Snyder investigates immune evasion strategies employed by cancer cells, particularly in brain metastases. Her lab employs cellular, molecular, and computational tools to study macrophage-tumor interactions. Key areas include tumor immunology, necroptosis pathways, and therapeutic strategies to combat cancer. She emphasizes mentorship to prepare students for biomedical careers.

Awards:

• Tang Prize Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020-2021)
• NIH NRSA F32 Predoctoral Fellowship (2017-2019)
• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2013-2017)

Advising & Lab: While currently not accepting undergraduate or MS student applications (2024-2025), her lab focuses on macrophage function in metastatic cancer. Past mentorship includes guiding students in immunology techniques and scientific communication.