Jennifer Avena is a highly-educated molecular biologist and genetics specialist. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Genetics and Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Currently, Jennifer serves as an Assistant Professor at San José State University, where she teaches and conducts research on these subjects. Prior to this role, she taught at the University of Colorado Boulder and served as a Research Associate, Lecturer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, and Lead Graduate Teacher. Additionally, she worked as a Guest Laboratory Designer and Lecturer in Genetics at Regis University and as an Instructor's Assistant for a Yeast Genetics and Genomics Course at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Throughout her distinguished career, Jennifer has gained extensive experience in the field of molecular biology. She has conducted research on a broad range of topics, including yeast biology, cell division, and genes that control early embryonic development in fruit flies. Her work has been published in several top-tier academic journals, and she has presented at numerous scientific conferences.

In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys hiking, running, and reading. She is also an avid traveler and has visited many countries around the world.