Hou Lab

Principal Investigator

About

As an Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Biostatistics at Columbia University, Dr. Wenpin Hou focuses on developing statistical machine learning methods to tackle the challenges at the intersection of statistics and data science (data in single-cell genomics, epigenomics and spatial transcriptomics), mathematical modeling of gene regulatory networks, and ultimately understanding gene regulatory mechanisms. She is particularly interested in developing methods for spatio-temporal patterns in single-cell and spatial genomics and epigenomics data. She actively contributes to collaborations in ENCODE4 consortium, various aspects of cancer, immunology, infectious disease, developmental processes, obesity, maternal and child health, and health disparity. The outcomes are expected to lead to uncovering the complex mechanisms of various diseases and biological contexts, and therefore lead to the development of targeted therapy that can benefit the broad community. In September 2023, Dr. Hou received the Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) for Early Stage Investigators(link is external and opens in a new window) (R35(link is external and opens in a new window)) from NIH/NIGMS(link is external and opens in a new window) to develop methods for inferring and analyzing gene regulatory networks using single-cell multiomics and spatial genomics data.

Before that, as a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biostatistics(link is external and opens in a new window)Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health(link is external and opens in a new window) mentored by Dr. Stephanie Hicks(link is external and opens in a new window) and Dr. Hongkai Ji(link is external and opens in a new window), Dr. Hou received the NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00)(link is external and opens in a new window) (1K99HG011468-01(link is external and opens in a new window)) from NIH/NHGRI(link is external and opens in a new window) in March 2021 (mentors: Dr. Hongkai Ji(link is external and opens in a new window)Dr. Stephanie Hicks(link is external and opens in a new window), and Dr. Andrew Feinberg(link is external and opens in a new window)), to develop computational methods for inferring single-cell DNA methylation and its spatial landscape. In addition, she worked with Dr. Suchi Saria(link is external and opens in a new window) in the Department of Computer Science(link is external and opens in a new window) and Dr. Aravinda Chakravarti(link is external and opens in a new window) in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics(link is external and opens in a new window) on gene regulatory network inference using longitudinal transcriptomics and chromatin accessibility data. Dr. Hou received her Ph.D. in Mathematics(link is external and opens in a new window) with University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF)(link is external and opens in a new window) and Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS)(link is external and opens in a new window) from The University of Hong Kong(link is external and opens in a new window) under the supervision of Dr. Wai-Ki Ching(link is external and opens in a new window).

Dr. Hou is looking for students in all levels and two postdocs to work together on exciting research projects. Welcome to contact her or put her name in your application if you are interested.

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