Mayah Phillips (She/Her)
Where are you from?
Reisterstown, MD
What are you involved in at RIT?
Ambassador Chair for College of Science Activities Board (COSSAB), Vice President and Treasurer of Bioinformatics Club, RIT365 Co-facilitator, Wadsworth's Lab, Peer Mentor Program, Work in the Faculty Office in the College of Science, Power Yoga, Vis Viva Dance Company, Teaching Assistant for Introduction to Biology
Why RIT and the College of Science?
The computational biology program at RIT stood out to me because of its innovative integration of computers and biology, as well as the vast resources available. The environment was both engaging and supportive. I was particularly drawn to the research opportunities and the strong emphasis on computer science within the curriculum, which made RIT the ideal place for me.
What is your advice for prospective college students?
My advice for prospective college students is to take full advantage of the resources your school provides—you’ve already paid for them! Whether it’s academic support, careers, research opportunities, or student organizations, these resources are there to help you succeed. Don’t hesitate to reach out and make the most of what’s available to you, as it can make a huge difference in your college experience.
What research projects have you been involved in or are currently working on?
I currently work in the Wadsworth Lab, where I investigate Neisseria gonorrhoeae through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). My work involves characterizing genomic regions to identify genetic associations and investigate patterns of genomic variation.
Previously, I worked in Dr. Cui's Lab, where I analyzed data across multiple transcription factors (TFs) to characterize chromatin architecture. I investigated patterns of nucleosome depletion, nucleosome phasing, and TF-specific chromatin interactions to better understand the relationship between transcription factor binding and chromatin organization.
I have also completed two summer research internships at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). During my first summer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), I developed a Python-based clinical decision support tool to calculate LDL cholesterol levels. During my second summer at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), I trained a deep neural network to characterize T-cell recognition across varying antigen strengths under different pharmacological drug perturbations.