Biography

In [semi-]retirement from my genetics career, I have recently completed MA-level graduate work in philosophy, with a focus on philosophy of mind.

I came to genetics after an earlier career in architecture – both endeavors being at heart quests for pattern. An interest in polygenic phenotypes jolted me out of molecular biology (which was not at that time well-equipped to address the question) into population biology: my doctoral work focused on migratory behavior and metabolism in grasshoppers. Interest in diabetes – a classic example of a common, genetically complex human disease – brought me to Texas Biomed. My work there involved development of statistical genetics methods for etiologically complex phenotypes, including tools for analyzing sex-specific effects, genotype x environment interaction, gene expression, and epigenetics.