Community of Scholars seminar examines genomic data science

The University at Buffalo Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Community of Scholars (COS) Seminar Series invites speakers to explore topics addressing health disparities and clinical and translational research.

The first workshop in the series to be held Monday, September 27, will feature Stephanie C. Hicks, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who will present “Finding My Path to Genomic Data Science in Academia.” The free seminar will be held online via Zoom from 2 to 3 p.m.; find registration link here.

Community of Scholars Seminar Series speakers are nominated by a CTSI K Scholar. The program offers research mentoring, career and professional development, and funding to outstanding junior faculty and senior fellows transitioning to independent faculty positions.

Nominating Hicks as a Community of Scholars Seminar speaker was Qian Liu, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Liu, a 2020 K Scholar, calls Hicks an “excellent researcher” in the field of biostatistics, bioinformatics, and data science.

“Dr. Hicks started her position as assistant professor in Johns Hopkins University in 2018,” Liu says. “She is in her early stage for a career in academia, and thus can share with our K Scholars a lot of the opportunities and challenges she has encountered.”

During the seminar, Hicks will discuss how her career path led her to working in genomic data science, and will provide recommendations for others interested in pursuing this career path. In addition, she will review highlights from her career, examples from her genomics research, and examine the role of data science in academia.

“Dr. Hicks has an impressive publication record featuring multiple articles in high-impact journals such as Nature Methods, and holds a Research Project Grant (R01) from the National Institute of Mental Health to develop improved statistical methods for the integrative cellular deconvolution of human brain RNA sequencing data,” Liu says. “In addition, she is a well-recognized educator in statistics. She was selected for the Teaching in the Health Sciences Young Investigator Award and the COPSS Leadership Academy from the American Statistical Association.”

Liu adds that Hicks “actively outreaches to under-represented people outside her academic career.” Hicks is the co-founder of R-Ladies Baltimore, and co-host of The Corresponding Author podcast.

The next Community of Scholars Seminars Series lecture of the 2021-22 season is scheduled for Tuesday, November 16, and will feature David Degraff, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Experimental Pathology, Penn State University. He will speak on “Implications of Tumor Heterogeneity in Bladder Cancer on Immunotherapy.”

For questions about the CTSI Community of Scholars Seminar Series, contact scholar1@buffalo.edu or (716) 829-4718.