MORRISON: Federal funding brought me from Canyon H.S. to cancer research – cuts threaten the next generation - Herald-Zeitung
Cuts to federal funding for American science are disrupting research, halting clinical trials, and imperiling the next generation of scientists. As a scientist and a proud graduate of Texas schools, I am concerned that American research is being undermined and that the doors that enabled me to become a scientist are closing behind me. After graduating from Canyon High School in 2016, I earned a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Biology from Stanford University. I now conduct mathematical biology research at the Santa Fe Institute in New Mexico. My research has included developing a mathematical tool to find hidden footprints of cancer-causing substances in the DNA of cells, enabling us to better prevent many types of cancer. My journey from Canyon student to cancer researcher was made possible by a loving family, wonderful teachers, and sustained federal investment in scientific research.