Ethan Creed is a biochemist and aspiring therapeutic engineer focused on advancing gene editing technologies to create more precise and accessible treatments for devastating diseases. He earned his bachelor's in Biochemistry with a minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin, where he first discovered his passion for research through the Freshman Research Initiative. There, he developed low-cost diagnostic tools to identify carriers of sickle cell trait—an experience that sparked his commitment to patient-centered innovation.
As an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Andrew Ellington’s lab, Creed worked on engineering biosensors using transcription factor-based systems and integrated experimental biology with machine learning to accelerate protein design. These experiences nurtured his interest in synthetic biology, computational modeling, and the potential of protein engineering to solve complex biological problems.
Creed's journey with St. Jude began as a Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) intern in the summers of 2023 and 2024, where he trained in the Weiss lab under Dr. Senthil Bhoopalan. His work contributed to modeling Diamond-Blackfan anemia and designing drug screening platforms to identify potential therapies. Immersed in translational research, Creed gained firsthand experience in bridging mechanistic discovery with clinical impact—solidifying his desire to pursue a PhD at St. Jude.
Now as a student in the Biomedical Sciences PhD program, Creed is eager to develop next-generation genome editing tools by combining rational design, machine learning, and experimental validation. He was drawn to St. Jude for its unparalleled mentorship, cutting-edge infrastructure, and shared commitment to scientific discovery that changes lives.
Hometown: Austin, TX
Education:
2025 - BS, Biochemistry (Minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences) - University of Texas at Austin
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2021-25 - University Honors