Geoffrey Siwo, PhD •  Computational Biologist

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I am a

Computational biologist

Geoffrey Siwo, PhD

Presented by
Superhuman Body + IF/THEN

MY PATH

How I became a proud dad, entrepreneur, and computational biologist.

MAJOR INFLUENCES

  • My Parents

    I had a close-knit family and community growing up. My parents’ values and support had a big impact on how I see the world.

  • Encouragement from Others

    Receiving a response and a gifted textbook from a Stanford Professor meant a lot to me. So did meeting her 14 years later, when I had become a scientist too.

  • Professional Opportunities

    When I was invited to present my work at a conference in Chicago, and Dr. Fauci made it possible for me to attend, it was a turning point in my career.

  • Limited Tools

    Many times, I didn’t have the tools and expensive lab equipment to run the experiments I was curious about. This forced me to get creative about how I think about answering questions and led me to my field.

I made progress by using whatever was available to me.

From making toys from cardboard boxes to using cyber cafes for research, I learned the power of resourcefulness early on. This approach has carried me through my journey, proving that cutting-edge discovery doesn’t require the fanciest tools, but rather a curious mind and willingness to explore. If you challenge yourself to stay inventive and determined, a lot more is possible than you realize, using what you already have.

Major Milestones

Classroom Lesson on Cancer

My teacher exposed me to the idea of cancer as  “uncontrolled growth.” This unlocked a fascination with science.

Biomedical Textbook

I reached out to a Stanford Professor and received a gifted textbook on Molecular Biology that opened my mind.

First Conference in America

I was accepted to a conference in Chicago. Being sponsored by Dr Fauci opened doors for me. 

Graduate School

I realized turning scientific problems into problems computers can solve was a big deal. This allowed me to move faster and do more with less resources.

Open Science Competition

Leading this competition opened my mind to see how technology could democratize science and accelerate the pace of making discoveries.

Research Assistant Professor at Michigan Medicine

I use computers to simulate how biological systems operate. This work helps scientists develop medicines at a faster pace. 

Things I learned

along the way:

  • Community support makes all the difference.

    Whether it was the love of my family or leaders across the world, so many parts of my story benefitted from the support of others. We don’t have to do it alone. When science becomes a community effort, we can accomplish so much more.

  • It’s important to be bold in your pursuits.

    If I hadn’t been willing to take a chance, try something new, or reach out for help, I don’t know where I’d be. So many doors opened when I knocked on them. We can’t know what’s possible for us if we aren’t willing to chase what we want.

  • Look for the gaps.

    I learned early in my career that science is far from perfect. Rather than simply accepting the status quo, I started looking for ways that I could improve the culture and practices that I found limiting. There are so many curious people with the potential to help make discoveries, and so many tools that could be used in ways we haven’t thought of yet. When I started looking for ways to make things better, the solutions were easy to see.

  • Chase what you care about.

    At each stage of my journey, I was driven by ideas and possibilities that excited me. There are a million reasons to go into science or technology. For me, science is a tool to improve people’s lives, explore how technology can make our communities healthier, and innovate the ways we work together to solve problems.

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PHOTOGRAPHER: Erick Forester • Illustrator: Ekaterina Kuleva

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