Before embarking on her journey at UW Genome Sciences as a graduate student co-advised by Dr. Lea Starita and Dr. Douglas Fowler, Malvika pursued a Molecular and Cellular Biology degree at UC Berkeley. Within the realm of research, Malvika is driven by a passion for pioneering new deep mutational scanning technologies through protein sequencing and developing innovative algorithms for reinterpreting variant effects. In the lab, she crafts lines of code to dissect variant effect data, compute the likelihood of pathogenicity for diverse variants, and strive for the democratization of MAVE data interpretation. Her enthusiasm extends beyond the laboratory, as she harbors a keen interest in the art of science communication. She is deeply committed to fostering scientific curiosity in others and co-leads Genome Hackers, a program designed to impart introductory coding skills and wet lab techniques to high school students. Beyond her academic pursuits, Malvika wears the proud hat of a devoted dog mom. She enjoys quality time with her family and friends, often venturing beyond the confines of the lab, and occasionally indulging in marathon sessions of K-drama binge-watching.