Monkkonen Lab Research
Our overarching research interest is to understand the molecular biology of breast cancer and the tumor microenvironment. We are interested in intercellular crosstalk in tumor progression, focusing on the most aggressive types of breast cancers (i.e., triple negative and metastatic breast cancers), patient populations lacking targeted therapies, and the synergy of risk factors for disease with basic biology. We are also exploring the basic science of autophagy function in endothelium and fibroblasts.
About Dr. Teresa Monkkonen:
I am an assistant professor at San Diego State University in the Department of Biology in the Cellular and Molecular Biology group. I am faculty in the SDSU FUERTE/NIH FIRST program, and a member of Moore's Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. For further details, see my CV in "People" tab. I completed my postdoctoral training with Dr. Jayanta Debnath, MD in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Francisco, after obtaining my PhD at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX with Mike Lewis, PhD on hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development. I am also very passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Status of Lab Openings:
About Dr. Teresa Monkkonen:
I am an assistant professor at San Diego State University in the Department of Biology in the Cellular and Molecular Biology group. I am faculty in the SDSU FUERTE/NIH FIRST program, and a member of Moore's Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego. For further details, see my CV in "People" tab. I completed my postdoctoral training with Dr. Jayanta Debnath, MD in the Department of Pathology at the University of California, San Francisco, after obtaining my PhD at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX with Mike Lewis, PhD on hedgehog signaling in mammary gland development. I am also very passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists.
Status of Lab Openings:
- Potential Master's and PhD students: Please reach out after admission to a program. Currently I am not accepting new PhD students (8/2026). If you reach out, please include your CV/ resume, why you are interested in my group, and how our research fits with your career goals. Please check out the CMB program websites for more information.
- Undergraduates: We are currently full. I do not anticipate openings until Spring 2027 or later. If you want to apply later, we would like a commitment for a summer and a semester, or 2+ semesters in the lab with >10 hours/week. Please submit the Google Form, and email Dr. Monkkonen about meeting. Google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/18ZLGQhUaJC-Ohqsqq5BpureFumRC-npZDY-AQ_VOClo/edit
