Why Science?
ORNL is proud of its role in fostering the next generation of scientists and engineers. We bring in talented young researchers, team them with accomplished scientists and engineers, and put them to work at the lab’s one-of-a-kind facilities. The result is research that makes us proud and prepares them for distinguished careers.
Deborah Weighill
Graduate student, Biosciences Division
Ph.D. student, Energy Science and Engineering, University of Tennessee (Bredesen Center)
Hometown: Paarl, South Africa
What are you working on at ORNL?
I analyze omics data derived from Populus trichocarpa, a biofuels feedstock. We develop new approaches for the concurrent analysis of omics data to provide fundamental knowledge about how the components of the biological system interact, and to facilitate the generation of new hypotheses around genes and functions of interest.
What would you like to do in your career?
I love to see abstract mathematical concepts find meaning in real world problems. I would like to continue to work as a computational biologist, finding ways to apply mathematical and computational methods to biological data and contribute to the solutions of important problems.
Why did you choose a career in science?
The precision and elegance of mathematics, as well as the complexities of biological systems has always intrigued me. Being able to follow those two interests in combination made science an easy choice.
