Ella Balasa is 28 years old and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 18 months old. She was born and raised in Richmond, Va., and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor's degree in biology in 2014. She works part-time as a lab manager in an environmental microbiology laboratory at the university. Studying antibiotic resistance among ubiquitous environmental microbes that can also reside in CF patients’ lungs is a fascinating connection and a fulfilling job. Ella has become deeply involved in the CF community, and as a director of the United States Adult CF Association she strives to help educate and support others facing the same challenges with CF. Along with this role, she serves on various research committees, including the CF Foundation Infection Research Steering Committee and was a co-chair for the inaugural virtual research conference, ResearchCon 2019. Ella also has a passion for writing. She has a column on CF News Today and contributes to the CF Foundation’s blog. When she is not working, volunteering, writing, or taking care of her health, she enjoys cooking, drawing, spending time with friends, and traveling as much as she can.