By Erika Brown – July 7, 2025
Research Technicians are the backbone of research laboratories. They actively participate in various projects, acquiring knowledge that they can apply in their future careers while simultaneously managing many tasks essential to the smooth operation of labs. Allison Kelley is one of the technicians in the Millman Lab and speaks highly of her time in the lab so far, reflecting on the experience and clarity it has brought her.
Kelley shared that her high school teachers encouraged her interest in science. Her calculus teacher guided her toward engineering, which allowed her to combine her interests in science and math. This encouragement led her to the University of Miami, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering in 2023. During college, Kelley engaged in research at a biochemistry laboratory focused on cancer studies. She conducted protein analysis for heme-dense organ cancers, including breast, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. Additionally, she explored E. coli cell culture and discovered her passion for working with cultures, which ultimately attracted her to a position in Dr. Jeffrey Millman’s lab.
After college, Kelley knew she wasn’t certain about her career path. Torn between pursuing medical school and working in research, she felt she needed time to evaluate her options. Kelley says that her time in the Millman Lab has been extremely beneficial in narrowing down her options and realizing what she wants in a career.
“It’s been really helpful for figuring out which direction I want to move in the future,” she said. “I applied to medical school and got into a few places, but that was at a time when research [in the lab] was picking up for me, and it made me realize I didn’t want to leave research completely.”
During this time, Kelley co-authored a research paper as part of her work in the Millman Lab, which was recently published in Biotechnology and Bioengineering, further cementing her interest in contributing to the scientific field in a hands-on and impactful way. The paper, titled, “Controlling Human Stem Cell-Derived Islet Composition Using Magnetic Sorting,” focused on a promising new approach to enhance the quality and therapeutic potential of stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets) by isolating insulin-producing cells using a specific surface marker known as CD49a. Cells expressing this marker have significantly better functionality, marking a significant advancement in regenerative medicine, and offering a scalable strategy to improve the safety and efficacy of stem cell-derived therapies for the treatment of type 1 diabetes.
Kelley recommends that recent graduates take time to complete post-baccalaureate work to refine their skills and determine the right career path for them. “Being in an environment where so many people have thought through a bunch of different careers and can offer advice based on their own experiences is incredibly helpful. Especially working at an academic institution, it’s so easy to get connected to people who do a wide variety of things, and there are lots of resources for people who are in this stage.”
After two years in the Millman Lab, Kelley says she has a clearer sense of her next steps: patent law. Witnessing Dr. Millman’s commitment to protecting his work and learning about the intricacies of intellectual property has ignited an interest in becoming a patent engineer. This role works behind the scenes assisting patent lawyers in securing patents for intellectual property. Kelley hopes to support scientists in safeguarding their work while remaining engaged in the scientific community and utilizing her technical background. “I think it’s an interesting convergence of science and innovation while protecting people’s intellectual property,” Kelley said. “Scientists are making advances every day, and so often they don’t receive proper credit and compensation.”
Although she has a path forward envisioned, Kelley plans to continue research in the Millman Lab for a couple of years. She is currently working on another publication coming soon from the Millman Lab, a study on genetic modification of cells to further improve functionality of the SC-islets. She is also working on a cryopreservation protocol to enhance compliance with federal regulations and move the lab into the next steps toward clinical trials.
While she views research in Dr. Millman’s lab is a stepping stone to the rest of her career, Kelley noted that the experience has been invaluable. “The knowledge and confidence that I have gained in my time have really enabled me to propel myself into the next chapter,” she said. “I’ll always be incredibly grateful for the opportunities that Dr. Millman has offered to me.”
Check out the recently published manuscript here to learn more about Kelley’s work.