Lydia Poisson

Bio

Lydia Poisson is a DVM/PhD student studying Immunology under NC State’s Comparative Biomedical Sciences program. Originally from Long Island, she moved to Cary, NC with her family and has spent most of her life here since. Lydia completed her Bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in Chemistry at Howard University in Washington, DC (Class of 2017). After college, her work in laboratory animal medicine eventually inspired her to pursue NC State’s combined degree program. Lydia joined the Gonzalez Lab in 2022, and her research focuses on the innate and adaptive immune responses within intestinal allografts destined for transplantation. Her thesis work investigates whether normothermic machine perfusion can mitigate the inflammatory response, thereby improving transplant outcomes. Upon completing her doctoral training, Lydia plans to pursue a residency in anatomic pathology, with the ultimate goal of integrating her research background and veterinary insight to improve studies using animal models. Outside the lab, Lydia enjoys spending time with family and friends, and some of her many favorite activities include drawing, exploring cuisine, horseback riding, cheering for her Boston sports teams, and doting on her ball python, Regina George, and her beloved dog, Dixie.