Maya Evanitsky received her bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from the Pennsylvania State University in 2016. While there, she conducted research to sequence and analyze the mitochondrial DNA of extinct mountain lions from Pennsylvania. Since June 2016, Ms. Evanitsky has worked as a postbaccalaureate trainee in the Laboratory of Skin Biology headed by Dr. Maria Morasso, and is planning to obtain a doctoral degree in developmental biology.

Ms. Evanitsky is currently working with Dr. Kathleen Baysac to elucidate the pathways through with Distal-less 3 (Dlx3) homeobox transcription factor regulates differentiation and homeostasis in the skin. They are using a combination of genomic and cell biology techniques to determine the downstream targets and interacting partners of Dlx3.