Alexandra Chivu

Alexandra Chivu (Alex) joined Flagship Pioneering as an Associate in 2023, following the completion of the 2022 Flagship Pioneering Fellowship. At Flagship, she is focused on venture creation and the scaling of transformative biotech companies, contributing across scientific strategy, lab operations, and team building.

Alex earned her Ph.D. in Genomics, Genetics, and Development from Cornell University, where she investigated transcriptional regulation in human cells. Her research centered on the role of RNA polymerase II pausing and its interplay with histone modification dynamics, using mammalian cell models and integrating both experimental and computational approaches. In parallel, she examined the evolutionary conservation of Pol II pausing across species, from unicellular organisms to mammals. Throughout her doctoral work, she collaborated extensively with research groups across Cornell and beyond, contributing to seven publications in leading scientific journals.

Before her Ph.D., Alex received her B.Sc. in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology from Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany. Her academic journey included research experiences in Germany, Singapore, and the UK, supported by awards such as the A*STAR SIPGA Fellowship and fellowships from the Center for Genomics Innovation and Daversa at Cornell.