Bio-X Graduate Student Fellow

Awarded in 2015
Home Department: Physics
Faculty Advisors: Daniel Fisher (Applied Physics) and Gavin Sherlock (Genetics)

Research Title: Modeling the evolutionary consequences of interacting genes”

Research Description: Using high throughput DNA sequencing technology and genetic tools, it is now Photo of Atish Agarwala.possible to conduct experimental studies of evolution. In conjunction with the Fisher and Sherlock groups, Atish works to understand the quantitative features of evolution by finding patterns in the data from such experiments. He also works on understanding the theoretical aspects of evolution, and is especially interested in the role that interactions between genes plays in determining the speed and predictability of evolution. An understanding of evolution can one day be leveraged to design better treatments for some types of cancer where natural selection plays an important role in the progression of the disease.

WHERE IS HE NOW?

Atish is a research scientist at Google, where he is studying the connections between physics, evolution, and machine learning.