Devyn Stringfellow is a curiosity-driven scientist and bioengineer passionate about elucidating disease mechanisms to improve the safety and efficacy of precision therapeutics. While earning her bachelor’s degree in bioengineering and biochemistry at Northeastern University, she gained research experience in drug development and cell biology, first in neurodegenerative diseases and most recently solid tumors.
The interest in neuroscience inspired her first research experiences, beginning with a position defining fibrillar polymorphs of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) using high-resolution X-ray scattering of human brain tissue. She then completed a co-op on AbbVie's Tau Biology team, where she designed primary neuron experiments using siRNA knockdowns, pathological protein seeding, and small molecule interventions to nominate drug candidates for in-vivo testing.
Her second co-op at Mythic Therapeutics focused on prioritizing and characterizing antibody drug conjugates engineered to improve therapeutic index and efficacy, expanding treatable patient profiles. Stringfellow continued to work part time progressing a discovery, bispecific antibody project by developing novel assays and prioritizing targets with in-vitro high-throughput cell-based screening. Finally, during an internship at Children's Medical Research Institute in Australia, she investigated cell death pathways following radiotherapy and chemotherapeutics revealing distinct immune and apoptotic signaling signatures that now inform her interest in treatment-driven resistance mechanisms in brain tumors.
During her doctoral training at St. Jude, Stringfellow aims to gain a deeper understanding of how tumors evolve in response to treatment, particularly the epigenetic and microenvironmental mechanisms that give rise to resistant cell states. She hopes to investigate these questions in pediatric brain tumors, where the need for targeted, well-tolerated therapies is especially urgent. Stringfellow’s long-term goal is to translate mechanistic insight into precision therapeutic strategies that balance efficacy with safety, ultimately improving outcomes for patients with limited options.
Stringfellow was drawn to the St. Jude Graduate School for its high density of impressive pediatric neuro-oncology research, unparalleled resources, and passionate mentors that embody St. Jude’s unwavering commitment to learning. St. Jude's mission aligns deeply with Stringfellow’s values in preclinical research, and she is confident this is where she will be best positioned to make a meaningful impact for patients.
Hometown: Ladera Ranch, CA
Education:
2025 BS, Bioengineering and Biochemistry (Minor in Behavioral Neuroscience) – Northeastern University
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2025 Al l Company Spotlight Award, Mythic Therapeutics
2023 AbbVie Excellence Award, AbbVie Celebration of Science