Lamyae El Khalki’s research career has spanned several continents. El Khalki grew up in a small mountainous town in Morocco, nestled between the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. She remained in her home country for her PhD, earning her degree in molecular biology from the University of Sultan Moulay Slimane.
During her PhD program, she had the opportunity to complete internships at Institut Curie in Paris, which afforded her experiences in new lab cultures and to work in a diverse, multicultural environment.
After defending her dissertation virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she went on to her first postdoctoral position in Philadelphia. Since 2023, she has been a postdoc at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in the Department of Molecular Medicine.
El Khalki views science, philosophy and art as interconnected tools that allow us to better understand the universe. She’s leveraged those tools in her cancer research. Though her focus is primarily in breast cancer therapeutics, El Khalki’s first postdoctoral position in Philadelphia explored the effects of electronic cigarettes on lung primary cells. Over two years, her work revealed that even the flavors alone could induce lung injury.
Coming to CWRU allowed El Khalki to return to research on breast cancer. Here, she studies novel signaling pathways responsible for breast cancer progression and metastasis. Her work recently resulted in publications in Oncogene and Scientific Reports.
At CWRU, El Khalki also is a public relations committee member with the CWRU Postdoctoral Association after previously serving as co-chair of the networking subcommittee at the National Postdoctoral Association.
Learn more about El Khalki.
1. What has been your best experience so far as a CWRU postdoc?
My postdoc journey in CWRU has been marked by both professional and personal growth. The supportive postdoc community at CWRU has opened doors for new professional opportunities, and the warm, laid-back atmosphere of the Midwest has offered a fresh and welcoming lifestyle.
2. How do you think the postdoctoral experience at CWRU is helping you prepare and advance toward your goals?
The open funding opportunities and the continuous professional training programs.
3. What are your career goals after your postdoc?
Opening my lab where I can conduct research and collaborate with other researchers around the world.