Post: Posted July 2023, Wake Forest School of Medicine
I work as a statistical genetics researcher in a multi-institutional and interdisciplinary research network studying a wide range of diseases and conditions (e.g., intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke, Parkinson’s disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, uveitis, and lung organoid responses to chlorine gas). Broadly, modern genetics research involves the use of rapidly-evolving, high-throughput technology to generate large amounts of data from a variety of biological subunits like nucleotides, amino acids, and proteins. The composition and structure of this data depends on the technical methods used to generate it and the intrinsic, interrelated qualities of these subunits. The integrated study of the structure, function, and mapping of collections of these subunits is called “multiomics” in reference to the combination of distinct research angles such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenomics.
My research is focused in developing and applying techniques in statistical analysis, mathematical modeling, bioinformatics, and high-performance computing to characterize the genetic architecture underlying disease etiology and inform personalized clinical treatment plans through -omic association studies. The central thread of this research is investigating inflammatory pathways shaped by both genetic predispositions and environmental exposures.
In my work, I enjoy utilizing my educational background in math, statistics, and the liberal arts by developing multidisciplinary understandings of problems and communicating my findings in creative, specialized ways. Outside of education and research, I believe approaching my work with candor and compassion is key to improving the health of individuals and communities.
I plan to post descriptions of several collaborative research projects I work on including more technical descriptions of my involvement in these projects. Stay tuned!