I am a graduate student in the Molecular Biology and Genetics Department at Cornell pursuing my PhD in Genetics, Genomic and Development. I graduated with a BSc in Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology from Arizona State University with a certificate in Computational Life Sciences.  At ASU, I was fortunate to work on multiple research projects. At TGen, I worked on computational methods for dissecting structural variants in underrepresented populations and their link to disease. As an All of Us enrollment ambassador and researcher with Dr. Susan Holechek, I investigated a SNP implicated with a protective phenotype in secondary dengue infection in the US population, a population not well studied in this context before.  For my PhD, I am interested in the intersection of computational biology with gene regulation, with a specific emphasis on non-coding genome regulation and ncRNAs like lncRNAs. I truly believe in research that transcends geographic boundaries and is accessible and applicable to all populations and would like to advocate for the same through my work. In my free time I enjoy reading murder mysteries, sketching and experimenting with baking.

Contact: ak2528@cornell.edu