Erika Rispoli

2026

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Academic Interests

Computational biology & Bioinformatics

Fun Fact

I've been drawing and painting my whole life.

I developed a love of research competing in science fairs throughout high school. In my junior year, I worked in a University of Pittsburgh lab and devised a project in which I utilized bioinformatics and computational modeling techniques to identify novel biomarkers and risk genes of major depressive disorder. I most recently worked at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center to research the role of the gut microbiome in small intestine regeneration following radiation damage. Currently, I'm hoping to major in Computer Science and Biology. I'm especially interested in researching the biological mechanisms of psychiatric disorders using computational biology and bioinformatics approaches.

What do you like about being a SPIRE Fellow?

I love how motivated everyone is! Everyone seems to have some topic that they could talk about for hours. I've loved how many opportunities I've had to learn about those interests. 

Erika Rispoli
Erika Rispoli