Dr Tayyaba Jiwani

I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate on the ERC-funded HUGERA Project (Human Genomics Without Racism), based at the Egenis Centre for the Study of Life Sciences. My research is in science and technology studies (STS), where I examine how genomics studies on human health and disease navigate the complexities of race in science and society.

 

Previously, I have studied the interaction of genomics with nationalism and nation-building projects, with a focus on South Asia. My research broadly engages with postcolonial and feminist approaches to STS and studies on the political economy of science.

 

Prior to my transition to STS, I trained as a geneticist. I completed my PhD in genetics and cancer biology from the University of Toronto, where I studied the genetic processes that regulate the development of the cerebellum, and are implicated in paediatric medulloblastomas, with the aim of informing targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. I have also worked at the intersection of science, policy, and public engagement, including as MITACS Policy Fellow with the Ontario Ministry of Health’s Digital Health Division, and in science communication roles with The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation (Canada) and Cancer Research UK.