Dr. Luisa Hiller

Associate Professor

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Biography

N. Luisa Hiller is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University. She earned her Ph.D. from Northwestern University Medical School and completed her postdoctoral training at the Center for Genomic Sciences at Allegheny-Singer Research Institute. Dr. Hiller's research focuses on the role of bacteria in human health and disease, particularly on the commensal pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Her laboratory investigates genomic diversity and plasticity within this organism, applying techniques from comparative genomics, bioinformatics, and phylogenetics. By studying the variations in pneumococcal strains and their genetic compositions, Hiller aims to uncover critical questions about bacterial strain distributions and their impact on human health. Her work contributes significantly to understanding how bacterial infections can lead to morbidity and mortality in humans.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2015-08-01 — Present

Carnegie Mellon University • Pittsburgh, PA

Teaching and conducting research in the Department of Biological Sciences, focusing on bacterial genomics and pathogenesis.

Requirements for Carnegie Mellon University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
Verbal
Required:158
Quantitative
Required:149
Analytical Writing
Required:4
Overall
Required:4
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field Research experience/publications
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Transcripts
  • GRE scores (optional but reported in profile)
  • English Proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo)
Specialization Notes

Admission is extremely competitive with no strict GPA cut-offs; holistic review is used.