Matt Pennell
Associate Professor, Computational Biology
Academic focus:
Evolutionary biology
Current research project:
Gene regulation is the process by which different genes are turned on to different degrees in different types of cells, controlling which proteins are made to give each cell its specific function. I am using data from multiple species to investigate how and why this process has evolved across the Tree of Life.
Previous positions:
- Associate Professor, Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, 2022-2024
- Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 2021-2022
- Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 2016-2021
Academic background:
- Ph.D., Bioinformatics and computational biology, University of Idaho, 2015
- B.Sc., Biological sciences, Simon Fraser University, 2010
Last book read:
“Health and Safety” by Emily Witt. Highly recommended!
In your own time/when not working:
I am an avid reader; I have amateur interests in philosophy, art history and the history of East Asia, among other things. I swim regularly, take my dog places and spend as much time hanging out with other people as I can.
Courses you’re most looking forward to teaching:
This fall, I’m teaching a survey course, Introduction to Computational Biology; I’ve never taught such a broad course and am looking forward to the challenge.
What most excites you about Cornell:
Cornell is the best place in the world to study evolutionary genetics. And it is also a notoriously collegial and friendly place to work — in my few months here, I have found that reputation to be well-deserved.
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