Vicky Hoznek

Vicky is a 4th year PhD candidate in Development, Regeneration, & Stem Cell Biology at the University of Chicago, with a B.S. in Human Biology from UC San Diego (UCSD). She got her start in research with Hemal Patel's group at UCSD, where she studied cardiac fibrosis in aging. She went on to work as a research associate at Rejuvenate Bio, a startup developing age-reversal gene therapies for dogs (and humans). Now, as a PhD candidate in Sally Horne-Badovinac's group, she investigates how the physical properties of the extracellular matrix shape tissue as it grows. As a developmental biologist who studies how tissues grow in the body, she is excited to apply her expertise to growing tissues in the lab. She is particularly enthusiastic about cultivated meat, which unites her interest in tissue engineering and her lifelong passion for animal welfare. Outside of lab, she enjoys rock climbing, knitting, ceramics, and walking her cat named Goose.

February 2025