Diego Jesus Orea

Diego Orea was born and raised in San Diego, California. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from California State University San Marcos, where he investigated the life history traits of nematode parasites and how these traits were influenced by host exposure to rapamycin. During the summer of his junior year, he participated in an NSF REU at Miami University (OH), focusing on the characterization of β-lactamases associated with antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

After completing his undergraduate degree, Diego joined the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studies the evolution of antibodies using genetically engineered B cells. Outside the lab, he is an avid soccer enthusiast both as a fan and an occasional player.