Geoffrey Siwo, PhD •  Computational Biologist

Section Styles spotlight-header

 

I am a

Computational biologist

Geoffrey Siwo, PhD

Presented by
Superhuman Body + IF/THEN

A Little About Me

  • I spend a lot of time thinking about what the future of humanity might look like.

    We live at an exciting moment in time when science and technology are accelerating quickly. What we’re capable of and how we solve problems is constantly changing, and I spend a lot of time reading about new tools and how we can use them to build better lives for more people.

  • I’m not always the loudest voice in the room, but that doesn’t mean I have nothing to say.

    I can be somewhat of an introvert, and am thoughtful about what I say and when I say it. It’s important to find ways that you’re comfortable expressing yourself, but being quiet comes with its own benefits. It gives me more opportunities to listen and be more intentional with my reactions.

  • I’m very close with my family and believe in the importance of community support.

    In Kenya, we tend to have large, close-knit families, and we help each other however we can. When I lost my parents and sisters, the rest of our family came together to make sure everyone had the support they needed, whether financial or emotional. No matter how busy life gets, I think it’s critical that we show up for the people we love and take time to take care of each other.

  • I believe that technology is powerful, but it needs to be designed to benefit everyone.

    Technology has the potential to transform lives across the world, but it isn’t always designed to maximize equity and positive impact. I think it’s important to prioritize different perspectives and backgrounds when we’re designing solutions, so that we’re more likely to design in ways that benefit everyone.


Audio Block
Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more

MY ADVICE

“No matter who you are or where you come from in the world, if you have an idea and access to information, the internet, and computers, you can discover something that even the top experts might never have."

Audio Block
Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more
Audio Block
Double-click here to upload or link to a .mp3. Learn more


WHO I AM

People describe me as..

  • Humble

    My mother had a lot of humility and instilled that value in me. She always showed extreme kindness in sharing what little resources she had. I was raised to be confident, but not to be arrogant or to center myself above others.

  • Thoughtful

    I try to take time to consider the nuances of different ideas and possibilities around me. There’s a lot of power in the technologies that I use every day, and I think it’s important to be careful with it.

  • Visionary

    I think it’s important to give ourselves permission to imagine a world that’s very different than the one we live in. That kind of imagination is our best chance at dreaming up a better future.

  • Curious

    I make a lot of space for wonder in my life, and find that curiosity is best paired with patience. I’m always asking questions and putting in the effort it takes to actually answer them.

My Accomplishments:

PhD Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, IN, USA

B.S. in Biomedical Science and Technology from Egerton University

TED Fellow

Next Einstein Forum Fellow

The Basics:

Pronouns: He/Him

Title: Research Assistant Professor

Institution: Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan

Expertise: Genomic medicine, systems biology, RNA science, drug discovery, innate immunity, cancer biology, global health, AI/machine learning, natural language processing (NLP)

WHAT I’M LISTENING TO

Where to Follow Me:

LINKEDIN →
TWITTER →

“Pay attention to the things that excite you. They may have a great impact on your professional life and make you stand out in future."

— Geoffrey Siwo

Looking for teacher resources?

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erick Forester • Illustrator: Ekaterina Kuleva

© 2024 THE PLENARY, CO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TERMS. PRIVACY.

This is a brand new site! See an issue? Let us know.