I am a philosopher of science with interests in the philosophy of biology and data ethics. My current project, “Rethinking our individual differences through genomics: an ethical framework for the use of data,” is funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQ). I investigate the concept of “ancestry” in human genomics, focusing on its ethical implications for how we understand genetic variation.
 

In this project, I examine how scientists use genetic data to make sense of human differences, particularly how tools like clustering algorithms and reference populations shape what we mean by “ancestry.” Although often treated as an objective biological feature, ancestry is partly shaped by scientific decisions about data collection, analysis, and interpretation. These choices influence how genetic differences are used in medicine, research, and policy. My work aims to support more transparent and ethically responsible uses of genomic data, promoting fairness and avoiding misleading assumptions about human variation.

 

Additionally, I am interested in causation in biology, particularly what biologists mean when they talk about causes. While philosophers often study causation from a metaphysical perspective, scientific practice reveals causal claims and explanations that do not always align with these views. In my earlier papers, I analyzed how scientists appeal to causes in their research, offering an epistemic assessment of concepts such as downward and reciprocal causation in evolutionary developmental explanations.