Explore My science
bi·o·log·i·cal sex
noun
ˌbī-ə-ˈlä-ji-kəl ˈseks
A set of physical and physiological traits—such as chromosomes, hormone levels, internal and external reproductive organs—that are typically used to classify individuals as male, female, or intersex at birth. While often treated as binary, biological sex exists along a spectrum, and intersex variations are a natural part of human diversity.
im·mu·nol·o·gy
noun
ˌi-myə-ˈnä-lə-jē
The study of how the body’s immune system defends against infections and helps regulate disease. It looks at how our bodies recognize what belongs and what doesn’t—like viruses, bacteria, or even cancer cells—and how they respond to protect us.
I'm an expert in how biological sex and sex hormones shape immune responses. My work explores why individuals respond differently to infection, vaccines, and immune-related diseases—often driven by differences rooted in sex and hormone signaling. If you're a journalist, editor, or producer looking to add depth and accuracy to a story about the immune system, sex differences in health, or vaccine response, I’m available for expert commentary and consultation.
publications on
sex differencs & immunity
o·mics
noun
ˈō-miks
The fields of biology that generate and analyze big data to understand the full complement of molecules—like genes, RNA, proteins, or metabolites—within a biological system.
These disciplines use high-throughput technologies to map and quantify entire classes of biomolecules, allowing scientists to uncover complex patterns, interactions, and system-wide changes.
Omics can reveal incredible insights into biological heterogeneity—when designed right. Too often, big-data methods are applied without considering whether they actually reflect the diversity of the system or population being studied. I offer consulting on how to design, analyze, and interpret omics studies that capture the full complexity of your data—whether you're working in academia, biotech, or public health.
explore my expertise
manuscript
in progress
Spatial Transcriptomics
unpublished
work
Metabolomics/
Steroidomics
in·fec·tious dis·ease
noun
in-ˈfek-shəs di-ˈzēz
Are illnesses caused by harmful germs—like bacteria, viruses, or parasites—that can spread between people, animals, or through the environment, and are fought off by our immune system or treated with medicine and vaccines.
I have written peer-reviewed publications on viruses, bacteria, and parasites, with hands-on experience developing diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. While I specialize in malaria and tuberculosis and vaccine developmment, my broad background in infectious disease research makes me well equipped to tackle a wide range of questions. I bring a strong analytical toolkit and would dedicate that expertise to answering your specific needs.
explore my expertise
het·ero·ge·ne·i·ty
noun
he-tə-rō-jə-ˈnē-ə-tē
The meaningful biological and technical variation that shapes how systems function and respond—across cells, individuals, and populations.
My research is rooted in the belief that biological complexity is not noise to be eliminated, but signal to be understood. I specialize in uncovering and quantifying heterogeneity—the meaningful variation across cells, individuals, and populations that drives immune responses, disease outcomes, and therapeutic efficacy.
I incorporate heterogeneity from the ground up and top down—through thoughtful experimental design, meta and pooled analyses, and computational pipelines that reveal patterns traditional methods often overlook. Whether analyzing omics-based datasets, accounting for sex-based variation, or correcting for technical bias, my goal is to develop insights that are both biologically rigorous and clinically meaningful.
current methods I love
publications
Duncombe et al.
(2021)
Journal of Clinical Virology
Duncombe et al.
(2025)
Nature Communications
Co-author (2023)
Malaria Journal
Libardo and Duncombe et al. (2021)
Cell Chemical Biology
Co-author (2022)
Cell
Co-author (2022)
Biomolecules
