Marlena received her B.A. in Human Genetics from Trinity College Dublin (2017), where she also pursued a Doctorate in the Bracken lab (2021). Her PhD work focused on the mechanisms of Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 dependent transcriptional regulation. She joined the Johann lab in January 2023 to study the heterogeneity and development of various paediatric cancers, utilizing both wet and dry lab techniques in her research. Some of her (many) hobbies include photography, travelling, painting and birdwatching.