Ashley Silvia Email & Phone Number

My background is in molecular biology, specializing in a variety of sub-disciplines. I earned my BS in Biochemistry from UMass Amherst in 2013. My undergraduate research focused on cancer epigenetics, where I monitored changes in breast cancer epithelial cells that were introduced to natural substances. In 2015, I graduated from Penn State University with a MPS in Forensic Science, where my research focused on validating forensic testing using Next Generation Sequencing (Illumina platform) for STRs and SNPs (ID, ancestry, and phenotype). I earned my PhD in Cell Biology, Molecular Medicine, and Genetics from UT Health in San Antonio in 2020. My thesis focused on identifying small viral RNAs generated during EBOV infection and determining the pathway by which they were generated. My post-doc in the Counterterrorism and Forensic Science Research Unit at the FBI lab focused on determining an optimal method for dual evidence processing that involved DNA extraction from developed fingerprints on adhesive substrates. I have additional experience working in a clinical lab developing protocols and validation/verification studies for a variety of molecular based tests. I have been fortunate to work in a variety of disciplines and settings (academic, government, clinical, and industry) where I could develop an adaptable skill and knowledge base. I am thankful for all of my mentors that have guided me along the way and I hope one day I will have an opportunity to become a mentor for future generations.