Major: Marine Biology
Graduation Year: 2016
Current Position: Laboratory Technician
Company: Pallanck Lab of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington

Gillian Milstein (formerly O’Neal): Gillian is a December 2016 graduate of Maine Maritime’s B.S. Marine Biology program. While studying, she was a committed member of the MMA women’s volleyball team and SCUBA program, which earned her two of her proudest titles: a NAC conference championship and her PADI Divemaster certification. After graduating unexpectedly early, she stayed on for a year as the women’s volleyball assistant coach and recruiting coordinator while her husband, Aaron Milstein, completed his degree program. Her first professional role after MMA was as a nursery technician for Taylor Shellfish Farms in Washington state, and for the last two years she has been a laboratory technician for the Pallanck Lab of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington, researching genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease in Drosophila (fruit fly) models. On the weekends she is an avid member of the Puget Sound volleyball and SCUBA communities, and loves participating in community theater (when there isn’t a pandemic!). Gillian is always looking for her next new hobby and loves a challenge!