Alex Van Grouw earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Portland in 2018. Following graduation, she worked with Dr. Andrea DeBarber at Oregon Health and Science University, helping develop and validate diagnostic biomarker assays for genetic lipid disorders. Her desire to focus on mass spectrometry for her PhD brought her to the Fernandez lab at Georgia Tech in 2020. Her research focuses on metabolomics of stem cell therapeutics as part of the Center for Cell Manufacturing Technologies, specifically focusing on developing mass spectrometry-based methods for assessing potency of mesenchymal stromal cells. Some of her favorite non-science activities include hiking and snuggling with her cat Zucchini.