Dr. Beers Wood combines her training in immunology with her postdocs in auditory neuroscience to study basic mechanisms of hearing. Her interest in research began very early through her experiences with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at academic medical centers. In college, her mentor, Dr. Kimberly Klonowski, fostered this interest to make research into a career. Her PhD under Dr. Ifor Williams gave her the tools to study immunology and specialized epithelial cell biology. For her postdoctoral training she discovered another research interest – the cochlea. Now beginning her own lab, she is excited to blend her training. She is also passionate about teaching the creativity that science requires through mentoring.