Jewel Nguyen Wilson’s journey into science began with a curiosity about medicine and deepened through hands-on research experiences that shaped her passion for both lab work and data analysis. She earned her B.S. in Biochemistry from California State University, Sacramento, where she worked with Dr. Katherine McReynolds on synthesizing glycopolymer-based antiviral therapeutics targeting viruses like HIV and SARS-CoV-2. That project, coupled with a NIH-RISE Scholarship, gave her a strong foundation in molecular biology and opened the door to graduate research.
Following her undergraduate studies, Wilson joined the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at UC Davis, where she worked with Dr. Janine LaSalle and Dr. Dag Yasui to investigate DNA methylation patterns associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Collaborating with both wet-lab and bioinformatics teams, she helped develop a custom program to analyze CpG methylation across placental samples—an experience that sparked her growing interest in applying computational methods to biological problems.
Wilson chose the Applied Biomedical Data Sciences program at the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences to strengthen her ability to bridge wet-lab research and bioinformatics. She’s excited to build on her experience by developing tools that help uncover the molecular and biochemical mechanisms behind disease and improve approaches to health and treatment.
Prior to joining St. Jude, Wilson also worked as a Scientific Aid at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where she supported environmental sample analysis—an experience that helped her define her path toward research over regulatory science. Now, she’s eager to apply her skills in a mission-driven setting, using data science to make an impact in pediatric and global health.
Hometown: Sacramento, CA
Education:
2024 - BS, Biochemistry – California State University, Sacramento
2022 - AS, Biology – Consumnes River College
Awards/Honors/Scholarships:
2024 |-Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program at UC Davis (PREP@UCD)
2023 - NIH Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement Scholarship (NIH-RISE) at Sacramento State University
2023 - UC Davis Graduate Admissions Pathway (UCDGAP)