Alaina was born in Randwick, AUS, and grew up in Coralville, IA. She currently attends the University of Iowa as a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing her B.S. in Human Physiology on the pre-med track. Alaina joined the Sowers lab as an undergraduate research assistant in May 2026. In her free time, she enjoys playing grass volleyball and serving as the Vice President for the University of Iowa Women's Volleyball Club.