Shirleen Xu is a post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellow in the Translational Biobehavioral and Health Promotion Branch at the NIH Clinical Center. She graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University with a dual degree in Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Philosophy, where she conducted four years of cancer biology research investigating tumor suppressor regulation at the Cancer Institute of New Jersey. Her scientific training spans molecular oncology, translational pathology at Bristol Myers Squibb, and systems-level microbiome research examining how alcohol-associated and behavioral exposures influence inflammatory signaling and disease phenotype. Shirleen aspires to become a physician-scientist in academic medicine, integrating patient-centered oncology care with translational research focused on cancer prevention. She is particularly interested in identifying modifiable microbial and inflammatory pathways that contribute to environmentally mediated malignancies and cancer disparities. Through her clinical work in free clinics serving uninsured populations and her mentorship of first-generation and underrepresented students, she is committed to advancing equitable access to both cancer prevention and academic medicine.

• Research Fellow

  Research · National Institutes Of Health

  Jan 2024 – Present

• Dancing

  2021 – Present

• Translational Medicine Intern

  Bristol Myers Squibb · Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

  2022 – 2022

• Research Fellow

  National Institutes Of Health · Biological and Physical Sciences

  2024 – 2026

  Research topic:

  Microbiome

• Research Assistant

  Cancer Institute of New Jersey · Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other

  2021 – 2024

  Research topic:

  Cancer Biology

• Organize cultural and community events for members across the Washington, DC metropolitan area, strengthening cultural identity, mentorship, and professional networking within the AAPI community

  Volunteering · Asian American Pacific Islanders Fellows

  2025 – Present

• Mentor

  Volunteering · Asian American Lead

  2024 – 2026

  Mission:

  Support underserved Asian American Pacific Islander youth with educational empowerment, identity development, and leadership opportunities through after-school, summer, and mentoring programs.

• Medical Assistant

  Volunteering · ICM Cares Free Clinic

  2024 – Present

  Mission:

  Provide low-cost/free medical care for uninsured and low-income patients