I am honored to receive the Finishing Fellowship Award from the Graduate School and the Graduate Dean’s Advisory Panel. This award grants me the time and focus needed to complete my dissertation. I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Qiuying Sha, for her encouragement and invaluable guidance throughout this journey. Her advice and support have shaped me into an independent researcher and prepared me for new challenges. I also wish to express my gratitude to the Department of Mathematical Sciences, the departmental chair, Dr. Melissa Keranen, and the faculty and staff for their unwavering support.
My journey at Michigan Tech began in 2019 when I had the privilege of working under Dr. Qiuying Sha in Statistical Genetics. My research focuses on developing algorithms to test the associations between multiple phenotypes, genes, and genetic variants. Gene-based tests are vital in genetic research because they aggregate signals from multiple variants within a gene, enhancing the ability to detect associations between genes and complex traits. Similarly, multiple phenotype tests improve SNP discovery by leveraging the correlations among traits, allowing researchers to identify pleiotropic genetic effects and gain deeper biological insights.
I have been a Graduate Teaching Instructor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. I genuinely appreciate the mentorship and support I received from my teaching mentors. I am deeply grateful to my teaching supervisor, Ann Humes, for her unwavering support, guidance, and encouragement throughout my teaching journey. Her mentorship has significantly shaped my growth as an educator and intensified my passion for serving students in academia. I aspire to pursue a career in academia, where I can serve students by sharing knowledge and fostering their growth. As part of my research goals, I aim to develop gene-based and multiple phenotype testing methods to advance the discovery of genetic associations and contribute to a deeper understanding of complex traits. I am eager to leverage the technical knowledge and leadership skills I have gained at Michigan Tech to further research in statistical genetics and functional genomics.