About me

I am a scientist working at the intersection of functional genomics, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine. My research is guided by a central question:

How do genetic variants perturb developmental programs across tissues, and how can we model these disruptions to better understand both typical trajectories and disease?

My roots are at Haukeland University Hospital and the University of Bergen in Norway, where I earned my PhD in 2018. There, I worked extensively with stem cell models and mitochondrial biology, laying the groundwork for my current interest in the functional annotation of disease-associated genes.

At Yale University's Brennand Lab (2021–2025), my scientific identity matured by leading studies that combined CRISPR perturbation with single-cell profiling in stem cell–derived models to dissect gene function during development. Focusing on loss-of-function mutations in neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) genes, I used directed differentiation to assess the impact of these variants across diverse lineages—neurons, glia, neural crest cells, microglia, and cardiomyocytes. My aim was to uncover shared developmental vulnerabilities across tissues that could explain why certain NDDs present with complex, multisystem phenotypes.

Throughout my career, I've been drawn to building — experimental systems, disease models, testable hypotheses, and collaborative teams. That drive has carried me across disciplines and borders, and continues to shape how I approach science.

I find the deepest satisfaction when working on meaningful problems, alongside peers who challenge my thinking, in institutions that reward curiosity, encourage intellectual risk, and foster collaboration across disciplines. That’s when discovery accelerates, and so do I.

• Link to my academic CV
• Link to my 1-page resume