Center for Computational Molecular Biology

Marygrace Cajigan Trousdell is thrilled to return to the Ocean State to pursue graduate studies in Brown University’s CCMB program. She completed her undergraduate degrees in Mathematics and Biology at the University of Rhode Island, where she became fascinated with interdisciplinary research. After graduating in 2019, she spent the following four and a half years at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Dr. dos Santos' lab as a bioinformatician. There, she worked alongside graduate students and postdocs to develop, optimize, and implement pipelines for analyzing high-throughput sequencing datasets, focusing on projects that explored normal mammary gland biology and the mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression. For her graduate studies, she is particularly interested in applying deep learning methods to revolutionize multi-omics, with a specific focus on single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. In addition to her studies, she intends to engage in community initiatives that get people excited about science and advocate for equity in STEM. In her spare time, you can find her in her art studio, wandering along a coastline, or at home cuddling with her two cats, Carter and Quincy.

Hometown: Huntington, New York

Advisors: Dr. Ying Ma, CCMB and Biostatistics

Research Interests: Single-cell and Spatial Transcriptomics, Cancer Biology, Epigenetics

“I am fascinated by the complexity of cancer—a relentless rebellion of one’s own cells. During my PhD, I am determined to explore how deep learning models can be leveraged to uncover mechanisms directly contributing to disparities in cancer prevalence and mortality.”

A challenging part of my work is effective scientific communication. This is a challenge I welcome, as it ensures that my research is accessible to those who can benefit from it. 

What is your favorite thing about my graduate program so far is connecting with so many impressive and imaginative thinkers!

After my PhD, I hope to continue the pursuit of discovery, nurture my passions, and build up the next generation of scientists.

Outside of school, I enjoy creating ocean-inspired resin art, hiking, and cooking.

Highlighted work: Characterization of Organoid Cultures to Study the Effects of Pregnancy Hormones on the Epigenome and Transcriptional Output of Mammary Epithelial Cells