What will you be working on?
My research focuses on building computational tools that predict the effect of genetic mutations on cellular activity, and ultimately, risk of disease. I will also create models to predict how cellular activity changes when key cellular components are perturbed. Overall, my goal is to build methods that improve our ability to interpret the human genome and engineer cells for therapeutic purposes.
What are you looking forward to most in your experience as a WA scholar?
I am most looking forward to meeting other students and faculty working at the intersection of machine learning and computational biology. It’s a space with a vast range of open problems and a great potential for impact, and I’m excited to learn from others, both in the WA community and Stanford more broadly.
How do you see this shaping your research, and ultimately, career?
The WA fellowship provides critical financial support at a time when federal research funding is uncertain, and it has made it possible for me to pursue a postdoc. Just as importantly, I hope that the people I meet and the research directions I’m exposed to will help me grow as a scientist and prepare me for my goal of becoming an independent PI.
From your perspective, what does it mean to you to be a WA scholar?
To me, being a WA scholar means having the support to take on ambitious, risky problems and the chance to learn from people who think deeply about similar questions.