With the high incidence of cancer recurrence after treatment, Emily Hokkanen is driven to uncover genetic targets that allow tumors to persist and to improve therapies. She earned her B.S. in Biology from The College of St. Scholastica, where her research achievements earned her the Outstanding Researcher Award in 2025.
Hokkanen’s research interests center on genes that play essential roles in cancer cell survival after therapy, which may offer new therapeutic avenues to improve treatment efficacy. Her interest in cancer research was shaped by her work in the CREU internship at the University of Colorado Anschutz, where she screened potential cancer treatment compounds in rhabdomyosarcoma and breast cancer cells. She later joined a joint R01-funded lab at the University of Minnesota, where she studied genes involved in muscle development and their relevance to understanding and treating rhabdomyosarcoma. These experiences solidified her desire to focus on translational cancer research.
Hokkanen was drawn to St. Jude for its mission to advance scientific discoveries to save lives and for its collaborative research environment that bridges basic science and clinical application. She joined the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program to pursue research that can be translated into treatments with real impact for patients.
Hometown: Andover, MN
Education:
2025 - BS, Biology – The College of St. Scholastica
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2025 - Outstanding Researcher Award, The College of St. Scholastica