Lucas Penny Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Leveraged data science and machine learning skills to characterize cancer gene expression with novel cell-free genomic data generated in-lab. Streamlined pipeline to reduce overall processing and analysis time.
• Devised experiments to interrogate non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma cell lines genomic profiles for biomarker discovery.
• Modeled analytes in cell media to evaluate potential non-invasive biomarkers used for early disease detection and treatment in the bloodstream of patients.
• Supported larger study to process and analyze blood samples in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients.

• Spearheaded the creation of the first national survey for the HIV front-line sector to examine the knowledge, usability, readiness and supports available for accessing HIV self-testing in Canada under Dr. Sean O’Rourke.
• Recruited 400 people working in the front-line sector and from community organizations across Canada.
• Funded through CANFAR and the Laidlaw Research Scholarship (combined award of $40 000), involved in Canada-wide implementation of HIV self-testing strategy and mobile health-based use for high-risk populations.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Project: A computational model to measure and describe the sequence specificity of human nucleosomeremodeling enzymes - Supervisor: Dr. Timothy Hughes
• Predicted nucleosome remodeling enzyme occupancy computationally with Bash, Python, and R using sequence characteristics (k-mers, DNA structure from sequence, periodicity of dinucleotides) to determine nucleosome.
• Developed a pipeline to efficiently analyze and interpret data of 1024 sequence k-mers in the yeast genome to discover effects of remodeling enzymes on nucleosome occupancy.
• Working with various ChIP-Seq datasets using Bash, Python, and R to predict how sequence characteristics (k-mers, DNA structure from sequence, periodicity of dinucleotides) potentially determine nucleosome occupancy.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

• Responsible for data extractions and analysis of literature and news articles in order to understand population antibody patterns and potential SARS-CoV-2 immunity. Funded by Public Health Agency of Canada.
• Closely involved in streamlining systematic review process to improve data analysis and efficiency of extractions.

Toronto, Canada Area

• Supervisor: Dr. Igor JurisicaLeveraged data science skills to contribute to development of human disease and cancer prediction database under, specifically worked to integrate large data sets to validate and update.
• 1st place in 2018 and 2019 in University Health Network (UHN) undergraduate research conference.

Toronto, Canada Area

Cority (formerly Medgate) is medical software-as-a-service company that utilizes Environmental, Health, Safety and Quality (EHSQ) software solutions to advance sustainability and operational excellence within a company.

• Developed a novel diagnostic device to detect early breast cancer using patient saliva under Dr. James Mahony & Dr. Suresh Neethirajan as the youngest research intern ever hired to work in both respective research labs.
• Established an inter-university collaboration as the lead investigator to complete various aspects of the project.
• 1 of 6 students chosen to represent Canada at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles in May of 2017.
• Recipient of Gold medalist Canada-Wide Science Fair, Sanofi BioGenius National Competition Top 5, Canadian Manning Innovation Award, Canadian Society for Clinical Chemists Award.

• Supervisor: Dr. Margaret Fahnestock
• Gained strong wet-lab experience to better understand rhomboid protease 4 mRNA expression in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease.
• Recipient of Bronze Medal at the Canada-Wide Science and Engineering Fair 2015

• One of 60 youth selected to represent over 2 million students at the Ministry of Education
• Designed various programs to be implemented provincially by the Ministry of Education to improve student engagement and strengthen the student voice
• Brainstormed potential curriculum changes with the Minister of Education, specifically focusing on secondary school science and business

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, And Computational Biology

2023 Temerty Faculty of Medicine Entrance Scholarship (top 1% of incoming graduate student in Temerty Faculty of Medicine) ($10 000).

Bachelor'S Degree, Bioinformatics, Gpa: 3.90

Activities and Societies: Men’s Varsity Rowing (2018-2021), UofT Undergraduate Ambassador, Engineers Without Borders Vice President of.