Anya graduated from Otago University with a BSc in Genetics in 2019. During this time she undertook multiple projects involving environmental DNA which led her to the Gemmel lab.
She took on a Masters in Zoology with Dr. Eddy Dowle as her primary supervisor. Her Masters project is focused on developing DNA based biomonitoring techniques of freshwater streams using bulk environmental DNA. This work will attempt to produce quantitative measurements of the species present in a sample which can be possible by implementing CRISPR-Cas enrichment. This work is due to finish in April 2023.