Julia Montague
- Post by: fantom
- 20 August 2025
- No Comment
Introduction
Ciao, I’m Julia! I’m originally from Philadelphia, USA, but my academic journey has taken me across the globe. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Later, I completed a Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Evolution from Kiel University in Germany, where my thesis focused on the role of epigenetics in inflammatory disease. Now, I’m an MSCA fellow in the FANTOM doctoral network at the University of Milano-Bicocca in Monza, Italy. My local PhD program is called DIMET—Doctorate in Molecular and Translational Medicine.
My doctoral research focuses on drug-tolerant persister cells (DTPs) and drug resistance mechanisms in ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and other ALK+ malignancies, such as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By modeling drug persistence in vitro and using a multiomics approach—integrating RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) with epigenomic data—I aim to characterize the regulatory mechanisms of DTPs. Additionally, I am utilizing whole-genome CRISPR knockout screening to profile the “Resistome” of ALK-driven cancers. With these methodologies, I hope to discover new mechanisms of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy resistance and contribute to the improvement of patient outcomes. I’m especially interested in cancer evolution and how bioinformatics approaches can help uncover hidden patterns in complex datasets.
Outside of the lab, I love hiking and biking through the beautiful landscape of Northern Italy. I also enjoy cooking and often experiment with a variety of cuisines inspired by the places I’ve lived in and traveled to. With the rest of my free time, I’m learning Italian and enjoy unwinding with a good book.