Edward Ramos

Doctorate in Molecular Biotechnology

Education

• Doctorate in Molecular Biotechnology, University of Washington
• Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University

Career Path

• Genetics and public policy fellow, worked on Capitol Hill for then-Sen. Barack Obama
• Legislative assistant for health and science policy for Sen. Obama
• Science policy analyst, Office of the Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health

Now

Research fellow and science policy analyst at the Center for Research on Genomics and Global Health, National Institutes of Health

Research

“My work focuses primarily on understanding the role of genetics in health inequalities observed across global populations, including underrepresented minorities in the United States. Much of my research also allows me to inform discussions around social and public policy issues associated with genomics research.”

Currently, Ed is involved in projects specifically aimed at understanding the genetic contributions of type 2 diabetes and related diseases, as well as investigating the correlation of individual genetic variation with drug responses across multiple populations.

On choosing the UW

“As an undergraduate, it was clear to me that additional training was needed to have an opportunity to significantly contribute to the scientific community. My interests were primarily focused on biology and technology, and the UW was one of the very few institutions at the time that combined these fields into a multidisciplinary Ph.D. program like that of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology, now known as the Department of Genome Sciences.”

On being a minority in his field

“In general, maintaining one’s identity can be difficult in a new and unfamiliar environment. In a graduate program, this can be amplified when mentors and peers do not share or understand your social and cultural views and perspectives. This additional burden, coupled with the expected rigors of a Ph.D. is challenging to balance. However, it is important to realize that these challenges can be an effective asset, allowing you to bring a novel perspective to the table.”

Advice to graduate students

“First, be ready to step outside of the box; it is important not to constrain your creativity. Second, remember that there are a lot of different ways to get from A to B. You may find a lot of value in deviating from the ‘traditional’ path. Finally, always keep in mind that identifying what you don’t want to do is just as important as knowing what it is you do want.”