Leira Burgos-Arzola

Leira earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from The University of Texas at San Antonio and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science at the University of Florida, with a concentration in Medical Microbiology and Biochemistry.

She joined Texas Biomedical Research Institute in July 2023 as a Biocontainment Research Veterinary Technician, gaining experience with a variety of animal models and blood collection techniques. Her experience includes working with non-human primates, mice, and guinea pigs in both Animal Biosafety Level 2 (ABSL-2) and Animal Biosafety Level 4 (ABSL-4) environments. She is fully trained and qualified to work in ABSL-4 facilities.

Through her work in the lab, Leira aims to expand her understanding of the scientific research behind animal studies and gain further experience with in vitro research methods. She is interested in developing a broader understanding of how animal models and in vitro approaches complement one another in advancing scientific discovery.