Carla is an associate professor and director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab. She works at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC (Virginia Tech Carilion) in Roanoke, VA. She is originally from Argentina, where she earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology at the University of Buenos Aires. She was fundamental in the process of developing a COVID-test that has enhanced testing capabilities not only for the Virginia Tech community but also for the whole Southwest Virginia region.