Laura Hofman

Woman with long blonde hair smiling in front of a glass door

Program: Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Lab: Bradley Bernstein 

Laura is a graduate student in the Bernstein lab within the Biological and Biomedical Sciences program at Harvard Medical School. She grew up in Utrecht, The Netherlands, and graduated from Utrecht University in 2019 with a BSc with honors in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Latin Language and Culture. In her MSc in Cancer, Stem Cells, and Developmental Biology, she trained in Prof. Jarno Drost’s lab at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, identifying novel immunotherapeutic targets for pediatric solid tumors using patient-derived organoids. In Prof. Jennifer Doudna’s lab at UC Berkeley, she applied her expertise in cell biology to dissect a major challenge in CRISPR (epi)genome editing: the efficient delivery of Cas9 to cells and genes of interest. In the Bernstein lab, she seeks to understand and exploit epigenetic (de)regulation of transposable elements to elicit immunity in small cell lung cancer. She participates in the Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine Program, bridging basic discovery and clinical impact, and she volunteers for the ONE Campaign, lobbying to end extreme poverty and preventable diseases. Alongside her research, Laura is passionate about teaching, tutoring refugees, competitive rowing, and photography.Laura became involved in LCBC because she loves meeting and engaging with other students. She is excited to help foster community among current students and alumni, an important part of making discoveries as a field, and serve as a resource to other graduate students as a peer mentor.


 

If you weren’t a scientist, what would you be? I would be a photographer for National Geographic.

If you were a piece of lab equipment, which would you be? I would be a nucleofector - I deliver, am straightforward and able to handle the heat, and when you need me, nothing else will do.

If you could only eat one thing for the next year, what would you choose? Bread with cumin Gouda cheese.

What is the best advice you have ever received? Do something out of your comfort zone every day!

What is on your bucket list? To visit each continent (especially Antarctica).

What is one thing that instantly makes your day better? My morning routine: a bike ride, good coffee(s) (but the bar is low) and NYT and NRC (if you know you know) games.

What is your hidden talent? I can unicycle pretty well.

Who inspires you? Honestly, my family and friends and how they move through life :-)