About me

Hi, my name is Cole Ruoff. I'm a second-year PhD student at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

My current research focuses on tumor evolution, therapy resistance, and metastasis in breast and prostate cancer using advanced single-cell multi-omic approaches.

With a highly interdisciplinary background, I excel at bridging the gap between computational and experimental biomedical research. I have hands-on experience with wet-lab techniques and now work closely alongside wet-lab scientists and clinicians, which has given me a deep understanding of experimental methods. My diverse experiences have equipped me with a unique blend of skills in data science, experimental design, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, enabling effective communication across varied scientific domains.

Backstory

Growing up, I always had a strong interest in biology. As I got older, I began to show interest in computer science and taking courses in both subjects throughout highschool made the decision for my college major even more difficult. I soon would discover computational biology, a way for me to blend my two intellectual interests. I decided to study computer science at the University of Maryland with a concentration in biology. Studying both disciplines granted me the opportunity to meet and collaborate with students and faculty of various backgrounds. I developed strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate with biologists and computer scientists. After my undergraduate studies, I spent two years growing as a researcher at the NIH through their post-baccalaureate program in the Hannenhalli Lab where I completed my first research article. I am now pursuing my PhD in biomedical sciences and conducting my thesis research in the Navin Lab at MD Anderson Cancer Center.