CS Colloquium: Sarah Spencer, Novartis
February 13, 2026 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Add to CalendarContact
Morgan McArdle
mmcardle@g.hmc.edu
909.607.0299
Details
“Single Cells, Many Paths: The Role of Data Science in Drug Discovery”
We face a challenging reality that it takes $3.2 billion and 12 years on average to develop a new medicine that is approved for sale in the United States. Computational research holds promise to improve our ability to make medicines – through predictions of toxicity, generative design of molecules, mining public research, among many other examples. In this presentation I’ll focus on data science in the very first step of drug discovery: identifying disease-associated genes to drug. Leveraging genome-wide data from single cells, we use stochastic optimization and deep neural networks to create cell atlases. These cell atlases can be used to identify novel cell types, infer disease-associated cell state changes, and predict the effects of gene perturbations via transfer learning. We applied these techniques to identify anti-inflammatory genes for progressive multiple sclerosis, and further characterized the disease with dynamic spatial imaging from mouse tissue sections. I’ll conclude with comments on data science in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry – what careers look like, how to train toward this field, and the great opportunities for computational scientists to reimagine the paths towards innovative medicines for patients.
Speaker Bio
Sarah Spencer received a B.A. in biology from Washington University in St. Louis in 2009, and then pursued a PhD from MIT in computational and systems biology from 2011–2017. For the next three years, she joined CRISPR Therapeutics, researching gene editing and supporting the first clinical trials using CRISPR technology. She spent a year at Alltrna, a start-up engineering RNA drugs, prior to joining Novartis in 2022. As an associate director and senior principal scientist at Novartis, Sarah leads a computational research team focused on the very earliest stages of drug discovery.
More information on this event ›
This event is for: faculty, staff, students
faculty, staff, studentsCommunity Connections events provide opportunities for HMC faculty, students and staff to cultivate community, foster open conversations and share important information as together we live out our mission and shape the future of the College.
Calendars
The Office of Emergency Preparedness and Safety will conduct a practice lockdown exercise on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 2:20 p.m. A lockdown is an emergency protocol designed to secure and protect individuals who are near an immediate threat. This procedure is used when it may be more dangerous to evacuate a building than to remain indoors.
At 2:20 p.m., HMC will initiate the exercise with an announcement sent via Mudd Alert, which you will receive through your HMC email (and by text message if you’ve chosen to opt in for text notifications using the Mudd Alert Registration form.
The goal of this exercise is to practice securing yourself in your current location should an emergency situation arise. The exercise will conclude no later than 2:30 p.m. with a second Mudd Alert notification indicating that it has ended. If you do not receive the first or second Mudd Alert messages, please proceed with initiating and concluding the exercise on your own wherever you are on campus during this timeframe. Community members will not be asked to evacuate during this lockdown exercise.
For more information, please contact Kelly Salazar, emergency preparedness and safety manager.
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to connect with President Nembhard this semester to share ideas, discuss projects and initiatives, talk about the College’s strategic plan, raise issues affecting the community, or simply connect.
To request a meeting, please choose a preferred slot on this link. Submitting a request does not guarantee an appointment. A member of the President’s Office will follow up with next steps.
Please note:
- Groups should be limited to no more than five people.
- Requests are reviewed as they are received and are subject to change.
Human Resources is excited to continue our Fall Learning Series in partnership with Optum, featuring the theme: “Thriving Through Change: Building Resilience in Today’s Workplace.” These live, instructor-led virtual sessions (via WebEx) are designed to provide practical tools and insights to support your professional and personal well-being through engaging and relevant topics. Each session will be recorded so you can revisit the content at your convenience.
Advance registration is required to attend the live session.
In December 2022, for the first time in human history, a fusion reaction in the laboratory produced more energy than the lasers that started it. That single result—decades in the making—didn’t just answer a physics question. It reshaped how the United States thinks about nuclear deterrence, energy, and what’s possible at the frontier of high-energy-density science. Kim Budil, director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, will discuss this breakthrough and how this fits into the broader national security missions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and beyond.
This talk is part of Professor Tom Donnelly’s course Fusion: A Brighter Future. Speakers will share their expertise on a variety of topics that relate to fusion.
The Community Coffee Break precedes the lecture by Brandon Sorbom, chief science officer and co-founder of Commonwealth Fusion Systems. He has been recognized by MIT Technology Review (35 Innovators under 35) and TIME magazine (World’s Most Influential Rising Stars). Gather with the Mudd community before enjoying an inspiring program that explores the frontier of fusion energy, the ethical responsibilities of technological innovation and Sorbom’s entrepreneurial journey.
At a time when the world is looking for bold solutions to combat climate change, Sorbom is leading a revolution in clean energy. From creating a tabletop fusion device as an undergraduate to leading the ARC Reactor design study as a grad student, Sorbom has exemplified the transformative power of curiosity, rigorous science and a deep commitment to global stewardship.
The lecture begins at 11 a.m.
Join us for HMC Day of Gratitude and Kudos! Take a moment to appreciate the colleagues who make a difference in our HMC community. Stop by for light refreshments, connect with others and pick up Kudos Cards to recognize a faculty or staff colleagues for their support, collaboration, dedication or everyday contributions.
Kudos Cards will be available at the event and are available in the Office of Human Resources in Kingston Hall.
Come by, grab a treat and share some gratitude and kudos!
Students, faculty, and staff are invited to connect with President Nembhard this semester to share ideas, discuss projects and initiatives, talk about the College’s strategic plan, raise issues affecting the community, or simply connect.
To request a meeting, please choose a preferred slot on this link. Submitting a request does not guarantee an appointment. A member of the President’s Office will follow up with next steps.
Please note:
- Groups should be limited to no more than five people.
- Requests are reviewed as they are received and are subject to change.
Submit an Event
Use the Submit Events form to add Mudd community events to the calendar.