Ontario Genomics and CANSSI Ontario (OG-CO) are pleased to announce Dr. Daniella Lato as the recipient of one of three Ontario Genomics-CANSSI Ontario Postdoctoral Fellowships in Genome Data Science.
Dr. Daniella Lato attended McMaster University in Hamilton, where she received her B.Sc. in Mathematics and Biology (2015), followed by her Ph.D. in Bioinformatics (2021). Working with Dr. Brian Golding during her Ph.D., Dr. Lato explored the impact of genome re-organization on bacterial genome evolution. During her Ph.D., Dr. Lato won multiple institutional awards celebrating her research and community involvement at McMaster University.
Currently, Dr. Lato is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Under the supervision of Drs. Philipp Maass and Michael Wilson, Dr. Lato is using inter-chromosomal interactions to decode 3D genome architecture in human cells. Genome organization or architecture is important for the regulation of genes and cell fate determinations. Dr. Lato’s current project will assist in illuminating the genomic role inter-chromosomal interactions play in molecular functions.
Dr. Lato is interested in using computational biology and statistics to explore DNA from a genomic perspective. She enjoys mentoring trainees in the Maass Lab and sharing her experience in academia with future students by participating in career panels for high school and university students.
Outside of the lab, Dr. Lato stretches her creative (and physical) muscles as a competitive synchronized swimming athlete and coach at the Provincial and National levels. Currently, Dr. Lato swims for the Toronto Artistic Swimming Club. She has been recognized numerous times for her leadership (2017-2021 Therese Quigley Award) and athletic skills (2020 Dr. Edna Guest Award) in the McMaster athletic community.
Dr. Lato received the Fellowship in Genome Data Science for project: Mapping inter-chromosomal interactions across human cell types to decode 3D genome architecture.