Lilia Mijares

Lilia Mijares is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Medical and Research Technology. She coordinates multiple undergraduate and graduate courses and serves as the School of Medicine representative to the Maryland Forensic Laboratories Advisory Committee (FLAC) since 2016. Her academic background spans medical laboratory technology, microbiology, and biomedical sciences.

• Associate degree in Medical Lab Technology (Victoria College, 1998)
• B.S. in Microbiology (University of Texas at Austin, 2001)
• Ph.D. in Biomedical Biological Sciences (Yale University, 2008)
• Postdoctoral training at NIH (NHGRI, 2008-2010; NIH Clinical Center, 2009-2011)

Dr. Mijares specializes in clinical microbiology, molecular diagnostics, and host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on bacterial infections and microbiome studies. Her research incorporates MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, microbial genomics, and immunological pathways.

Her work demonstrates a progression from fundamental studies of innate immunity (2007-2011) to advanced applications in MALDI-TOF diagnostics (2016) and microbiome diversity analysis (2012). Key themes include bacterial pathogenesis, host immune responses, and forensic microbiology applications.

• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA), NIH (2008)
• American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Certification in Medical Laboratory Technology (1998)

Dr. Mijares collaborates with the NISC Comparative Sequence Program and NHGRI at NIH. She contributes to forensic laboratory regulation through her FLAC appointments (2013-present) and integrates clinical laboratory science with academic research.