Emily Hokkanen is a cancer biologist focused on uncovering genetic targets that drive tumor survival and treatment resistance. She earned her B.S. in Biology from The College of St. Scholastica, where her academic excellence and research promise earned her the Outstanding Researcher Award in 2025.
Hokkanen’s research centers on lineage-determining genes that play essential roles in cancer cell survival—genes that may offer new therapeutic avenues to prevent tumor progression. Her interest in this area was shaped by her work in a joint R01-funded lab at the University of Minnesota, where she studied the molecular underpinnings of muscle development and their implications for rhabdomyosarcoma. She later participated in the CREU internship at the University of Colorado Anschutz, screening novel compounds for efficacy in rhabdomyosarcoma and breast cancer cells.
Drawn to St. Jude for its patient-centered mission and translational research environment, Hokkanen joined the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program to bridge discovery science with clinical impact. She is excited to contribute to work that directly improves outcomes for children with catastrophic diseases—and to be part of a community where every experiment holds the potential to change lives.
Hometown: Andover, MN
Education:
2025 - BS, Biology – The College of St. Scholastica
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2025 - Outstanding Researcher Award, The College of St. Scholastica