Pardis C. Sabeti developed a family of statistical tests designed to pinpoint signals of positive natural selection by identifying common genetic variants on unusually long haplotypes. Her work provides a computational framework for detecting advantageous mutations that have rapidly increased in frequency among human populations over the course of the last 10,000 years.
Academic Background
Born in Tehran in 1975, Sabeti relocated to Florida as a child following her family's departure from Iran in 1978. During her youth, she demonstrated an aptitude for mathematics and competitive sports. She attended Trinity Preparatory School before enrolling at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Graduating in 1997, she held a perfect 5.0 average in biology. She subsequently earned a Rhodes Scholarship, completing a masters and a D.Phil in evolutionary genetics at New College, Oxford. In 2006, she received an M.D. summa cum laude from Harvard Medical School, becoming the third woman to achieve that distinction.
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As a faculty member at Harvard University, Sabeti leads research into computational biology and medical genetics. Her team at the Broad Institute created the Composite of Multiple Signals (CMS) to analyze genetic patterns. Beyond human genetics, she collaborated with Michael Mitzenmacher to develop the maximal information non-parametric exploration (MINE) system, a family of statistical tests used to detect correlations across various datasets.
Pathogen Surveillance
Sabeti focuses on countering infectious diseases through the development of genomic tools. Their collective efforts provided real-time data during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the 2016 Zika epidemic, the 2018 Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria, and the global spread of SARS-CoV-2. Her research group utilized genomic sequencing to trace transmission paths, identify variants of concern, and characterize superspreader events.
Public Outreach and Arts
In addition to her research, Sabeti maintains an active role in public education. She hosts the Annenberg Learner series Against All Odds: Inside Statistics and the Crash Course on Outbreak Science. Her commitment to mentorship includes participating in the Research Science Institute at MIT. Outside of science, she is a writer and the lead singer for the rock band Thousand Days.
Fast facts
- Born: 1975, Tehran, Iran
- Undergraduate Degree: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1997
- Doctoral Degree: D.Phil in evolutionary genetics, Oxford, 2002
- Medical Degree: Harvard Medical School, 2006
- Notable Award: Richard Lounsbery Award, 2017
- Notable Award: Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise, 2014
- Notable Award: Rhodes Scholarship, 1997
- Primary Employer: Harvard University
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Sabeti's genomic research?
Her work includes developing statistical tests to identify positive natural selection in the human genome and creating technology to track and counter pathogens like Ebola and SARS-CoV-2.
Does Sabeti work in fields outside of science?
Yes, she is the lead singer and a writer for the rock band Thousand Days and hosts educational video series regarding statistics and outbreak science.
Achievements
- Held posts at Harvard University
- Educated at Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and New College
- Fields of research: extended evolutionary synthesis
