Helen is a postdoctoral research associate in the Gibson Lab, working on the evolution of cell type specification using the model Nematostella vectensis. Helen completed her Ph.D. under the supervision of Professor Uri Frank at the Centre for Chromosome Biology, University of Galway, Ireland. Her Ph.D., entitled 'Cell-type specific genome stability in the non-ageing animal Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus', used a combination of wet lab and genomic approaches to characterize radiation resistance in a Cnidarian. Helen is passionate about multi-disciplinary research and the development of non-traditional model organisms as tools to understand complex evolutionary questions.