Xhoela is originally from Albania and majored in Molecular Biology and Genetics with a minor in Economics at Istanbul Technical University, Turkey. She graduated with the highest distinction as valedictorian of the Faculty of Sciences and Letters, ranking in the top 0.4% of all graduates. She was awarded the Scholarship of Excellence from the Albanian Government and the Success Scholarship from the Turkish Government, along with two Erasmus fellowships to conduct research in Spain and Germany.

At Dartmouth College, Xhoela studies cellular and organellar dynamics in the live brain as an American Heart Association predoctoral fellow and an Albert J. Ryan Foundation fellow. Her research has important implications for both healthy development and adulthood, as well as for neurodegenerative, metabolic, and age-related pathologies. She has presented her findings at numerous conferences and was recently awarded the Scientific Merit Award at the National IDeA Symposium of Biomedical Research Excellence and the Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society for Neuroscience.

Passionate about advancing healthcare, Xhoela has contributed to bridging academic research with clinical applications as a High Potential Entrepreneur fellow at Celdara Medical, where she worked on translating research into real-world healthcare solutions.

Xhoela is also dedicated to STEM outreach and leadership. She has served as a student representative on the MCB Graduate Committee and represents Dartmouth at the New England Graduate Women in Science and Engineering alliance. She was selected as a Leader of Tomorrow by the Global Biotech Revolution (GBR) and now serves as a GBR ambassador, working to establish a local biotech chapter. She is also part of the Top 100+ global women leaders in STEMM through the Homeward Bound leadership initiative, where she completed a year-long leadership program and engaged in collective STEM outreach efforts.

Beyond her research, Xhoela enjoys learning new languages (she speaks six), exploring new cultures, as well as hiking, traveling, and kayaking.