Jamie received her PhD in Biomathematics with minors in Statistics and Biotechnology from North Carolina State University in 2020. She worked for Dr. Jason Haugh on a collaborative project with researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to study the wound healing process. Her work was focused on creating mechanistic models to study the cell signaling pathway fibroblast cells use to direct their migration into wound sites to aid in healing. Prior to her graduate work, she attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth and received B.S. degrees in Biochemistry and Cell and Molecular Biology.
Scientist Spotlight
March 2021
What is your role at Applied BioMath?
“I am a Senior Scientist and Mathematical Modeler. I work with our internal project team and our collaborators to translate a biological system into a mathematical model, and then run simulations and perform analyses to help answer our collaborators’ questions.”
What do you love most about working here?
“There’s probably two things that I like most about working here: the actual job I get to do and the people here. I really like the fact that I can combine my interests in biology and math together with my passion for improving human health. Plus, everyone at Applied BioMath is so smart, supportive, and kind, so it makes a really great working environment.”
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
“The work we’re doing here. By using mathematical modeling to understand complex biology, we’re making an impact in the drug development process and helping patients.”
What was your main area of focus during your academics?
“I used mechanistic modeling to study cell signaling pathways that were involved in cell migration in wound healing.”
What made you get into the field of life sciences?
“I’ve always really enjoyed science, but I think what spurred my interest in biology was a cell biology course I took in undergrad. Learning about everything that takes place within one singular cell and then thinking about extrapolating that into however many cells make up a human, is just mind blowing.”
What do you like to do in your spare time?
“I do a lot of running. That’s always been a hobby of mine and something I’ve been able to carry into the pandemic. I’m also a big sports fan. My big three are baseball, hockey, and NASCAR.”
Do you have a motto or personal mantra you live by?
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." - Aesop
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
“I would travel and probably buy a Tesla. I would do wise things too like invest and save for the future but traveling and buying a car is more fun.”
What’s a random fun fact about yourself?
“I danced for 10 years growing up, and for Christmas I bought myself tap shoes and have been practicing tap dancing in my apartment.”
What inspires you every day?
“People, in general, inspire me every day. Working at Applied BioMath, I get to interact with a lot of scientists, and the knowledge, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and compassion that I see in all of these people is truly amazing.”
