Samantha Wilson
Give us your 2-minute elevator story.
My research program uses multi-omics data, emphasis on genomic and epigenomics data, and bioinformatics and machine learning approaches to understand and predict placental dysfunction. I am passionate about translating the results of these work to the clinic, in order to optimize health outcomes for the pregnant person and fetus. As such, we also work on developing and optimizing novel methods to non-invasively assess placental and pregnancy health.
Why did you choose this area of research as your career path?
I didn't have my career mapped out. My research program has developed over the years based on my research experiences.
I developed an interest in genetics during high school and just kept choosing to study it because it made me happy. Prior to graduate school, I really only worked on cancer projects. I knew moving forward that I wanted to focus on pregnancy and development as I had always found that area interesting. Cancer and the placenta are molecularly very similar, so I thought I could apply my experience in cancer to placental biology.
I was wet-lab trained and switched to computational biology halfway through my PhD. I liked that computation was a puzzle within the experimental question puzzle. My PhD worked on characterizing genomic and epigenomic signatures in placentas complicated by preeclampsia and IUGR. I became fascinated with classifying placental dysfunction based on molecular profiles. However, I wanted to move this work into translational science and use non-invasive methods, molecular signatures, and machine learning to identify pregnancies at risk of pregnancies complications. This is what I worked on at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre for my postdoctoral fellowship and has developed into my independent research program.
What do you still love about it?
I love that I get to work in multi-disciplinary teams with talented people, and constantly learn new things and challenge myself.
What is your favourite food to eat when staying up late writing grant proposals?
Boba tea popsicles and coffee
What is your favourite thing to do on a sunny summer day?
Hiking with friends, family, and my dog
What is a movie you have watched more than 10 times and still enjoy watching?
'The Sound of Music' and 'When Harry Met Sally'
What is on your bedside table?
A lamp, a good book, and a plant
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