Research

Areas of Research

My primary research interests are in Statistical Genetics and Genomics, Risk Prediction, Missing Data, and Semi-Parametric Methods. My thesis research focuses on building better risk prediction models that perform equitably across diverse populations to help promote precision prevention. I currently build and validate cancer risk prediction models using very large and diverse data that combine classical risk factors (e.g. demographics, lifestyle, and environmental variables) and polygenic risk scores in a single model. To support this work, I am developing new transfer learning techniques to facilitate combining information across data sources that exhibit complex patterns of missing data.

Papers in Progress

Coming soon.

Presentations

  1. Norton, E.L., Ahearn, T., Mukopadhyay, S., Balasubramanian, J., Kim, E., Pal Choudhury, P., Garcia-Closas, M., and Chatterjee, N. Modular and interpretable multicancer risk prediction of the 14 most common cancers in the U.S. to identify high-risk individuals missed by current age-based screening guidelines. inHealth Precision Medicine Symposium, Baltimore, MD. May 2025. Poster presentation.
  2. Brantley, K.D., Ahearn T., Norton, E.L., Palmer, J., Zirpoli, G., Neuhouser, M.L., Barnett, M., Teras, L., Hodge, J., Rohan, T., Milne, R., Eliassen, A.H., Huang, H., Chen, Y., O’Brien, K., Kitahara, C., Anderson, G., Lee, I, Chatterjee, N., Garcia-Closas, M., Kraft, P., on behalf of Breast Cancer Risk Prediction Project. Performance of common general-population breast cancer risk prediction models in 15 cohorts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. April 2025. Poster presentation: Abstract #1325.

Awards

Carol Eliasberg Martin Scholarship (July 2025 - June 2026)
Innovation in Cancer Informatics Grant Recipient (June 2025 - May 2026)

Community Invovlement and Leadership

  • Biostatistics Student Organization (BSO) Mentorship Committee Co-Lead (March 2025 - present)
  • Biostatistics Department Retreat Social Committee & Activity Lead (September 2024)
  • BSO PhD Student Representative (August 2024 - May 2025)
  • Biostatistics Department TA Training Planning Committee (June - August 2024)
  • ENAR Fostering Diversity in Biostatistics Workshop Committee (March 2024)
  • BSO Peer Mentor (August 2023 - present)