Tiffany Amariuta

Tiffany Amariuta

Advisor: Soumya Raychaudhuri
Tiffany Amariuta

Tell us a bit about yourself.

What is your academic background? What research experience did you have before grad school?

 

I majored in Biological Engineering at MIT and minored in French. I participated in research experiences at MIT for my first 3 years of undergrad, and abroad in both Switzerland and Russia for three months each.


What is your research area and why is it exciting?

 

I study human genetics of autoimmune disease. Specifically, I work on developing methods to understand how and what parts of our DNA confer susceptibility to disease. Such translational research is exciting because the insights we gain might one day guide the design of targeted therapeutics.

 

Why did you choose BIG?

 

I chose BIG because of the strong, densely-connected intellectual community in Boston and Cambridge between Harvard, MIT, the Broad Institute and all participating hospitals. In this community, you can find an expert on nearly any topic!


What was your favorite class and why?

 

My favorite class was STAT120: Applied Bayesian Inference, which taught me practical, relevant approaches that I continue to use in lab to conduct research.

 

How do you like living in Boston? What do you do when you are not working?

 

I love living in Boston, although I wish spring and fall were longer. In my free time I exercise, such as going for a run or playing tennis. I'm also learning to play the guitar.

 

What advice would you give to college students who are interested in a PhD in genomics/bioinformatics?

 

To students interested in a PhD in genomics/bioinformatics, I would say use this opportunity to absorb knowledge from the experts around you- so choose a program where you can build a strong professional network. Doing a PhD is of course also a great opportunity to do fantastic science, but as a trainee, focus on building a solid foundation of knowledge.

Contact Information

Hometown: Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey

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