Jillian Larsen graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemisty from UC Riverside in 2008 where she participated the California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP). 

In 2010 she began the Bioengineering PhD program under the mentorship of Dr. Julia Lyubovitsky and in collaboration and advisement of Dr. Nicole zur Nieden. She is currently investigating the potential of a 3D fluorescent hydrogel to support embryonic stem cell growth and osteoblast differentiation.