Thomas Chen, M.S.: From U-M to Harvard/MIT

(photo credit: Pat Durant)

Thomas Chen, M.S., graduated in Spring 2025 from the Gilbert S. Omenn Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics (DCMB) with a Master's in Science degree. He started his bioinformatics studies at U-M as a senior student majoring in Microbiology, and attended DCMB’s Accelerated MS program. In June 2025, he will pursue his training to become a scientist-physician at the Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program. 

Chen's passion for science stems from his keen desire to advance medicine to serve people. This keen interest was initially nurtured by his high school science olympiad coach, Ann St Amand, Ph.D., in St Joseph, Michigan, and then further strengthened by the inspiration and support he received from his professors and mentors at U-M.

As an undergraduate student, Chen attended the U-M Honors Program of the College of LSA. He studied virology and immunology in the laboratory of Dr. Kathleen L. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., and gained bench experience and a solid biology foundation. Working on a joint-project with DCMB professor Joshua Welch, Ph.D., Chen learned how to use single-cell multi-omics and spatial transcriptomics to investigate HIV pathogenesis and latency. “This is when I understood how combining bioinformatics and wet lab research can lead to breakthroughs unattainable by either one alone,” he said.

"Thomas is a truly interdisciplinary scientist who is equally comfortable at the lab bench and the laptop. He made important contributions to our collaborative project studying HIV with single-cell multi-omics, which produced an outstanding undergraduate thesis. I’m confident that his computational biology training has equipped him well to serve as a physician-scientist in the new era that will increasingly involve computational approaches in medicine."—Joshua Welch, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics and Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

In DCMB, Chen also thanks professor Cristina Mitrea: “She has been absolutely incredible in helping craft my plans and in supporting me through my entire training,” he said. 

“Thomas is always willing to help, and he does always help. He has broad skills and knowledge, but he is humble and willing to continue learning. He is self-driven and a quick study. He is also very efficient. He has a wide range of interests, but he can focus and keep working on the task at hand and towards his long-term goals. He is doing amazing research work and volunteer work in the community. I can’t wait to see his MD/PhD journey at Harvard and where the next steps after that take him.”—Cristina Mitrea, Ph.D., Lecturer IV in Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

And he is grateful for professor Stephen Guest’s course “Introduction to Bioinformatics & Computational Biology” (BIOINF 527), that “opened his eyes to what Bioinformatics can do to advance science and medicine.”

“Thomas is a student who is a joy to be around. He is thoughtful, respectful, brilliant, and incredibly hard-working. It has been a pleasure to watch his meteoric rise through both undergraduate studies and our master’s program, and now as he moves on to a top M.D./Ph.D. program. It will be fun to follow his career as a physician-scientist where I’m sure he will make significant contributions to biomedical research and improving patient outcomes.”—Stephen Guest, Lecturer IV in Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics

Highlights of his DCMB training have been meeting his heros Gilbert Omenn, M.D., Ph.D. and Liz Speliotes, M.D., Ph.D. “Talking to them about their careers as physician-scientists has inspired me to pursue similar pathways. I realized the profound impact I could have as a physician-scientist pioneering novel solutions for marginalized groups facing complex, rare, and neglected diseases beyond the reach of current therapy,” he said.

“Dream big, thank your mentors and keep them updated, always show gratitude, and pay it forward by being a mentor to others.”—Thomas Chen

Asked about his motivation to pursue an M.D./Ph.D., Chen said: “I want to become a physician scientist to conduct research with the understanding that behind every test tube, sample, and data point lies a patient, their family, and their incredible stories. Combining formal bioinformatics training with expertise in clinical medicine, I hope to have a career investigating complex diseases, developing novel therapies, and making discoveries to improve patient care.”

In joining Harvard and its affiliated institutions such as the Broad Institute, Chen looks forward to having many opportunities to further develop his bioinformatics skills. He will pursue his MD in Harvard Medical School’s “Health Sciences & Technology” track, a Harvard/MIT joint program that uses a more quantitative approach to medicine, and includes AI and bioinformatics. He also looks forward to interacting with the remarkable people that are at these institutions. 

“If I can make a difference in somebody’s life, I think that’s being successful,” he said.

Chen hopes to develop his career in academia as a physician scientist collaborating with the industry sector, and possibly advising governmental policies.

In 2023, Chen was awarded a nation's prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship that is designed to identify, encourage, and financially support outstanding undergraduates interested in pursuing research careers in the sciences, engineering, and mathematics. The Goldwater Scholarship is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

He was also U-M’s Rhodes Scholarship Finalist in 2024. Rhodes Scholars are chosen not only for their outstanding scholarly achievements, but also for their character, commitment to others and to the common good, and for their potential for leadership in whatever domains their careers may lead. 

Chen expresses deep gratitude for all the wonderful mentors he has met at U-M, including Kathy Collins, Maria Virgilio, Miguel Disbennett, and Barkha Ramnani in lab, Cristina Mitrea, Steve Guest and Joshua Welch in DCMB. As an undergraduate student majoring in Microbiology, he particularly thanks Beth and Tom Moore. 

“For your mentors, pick kind, genuine people who will lift you up. Your success is their success,” he recommends.

“Thomas has excelled in every aspect of his academic pursuits from the classroom to the laboratory. His scientific and scholarly curiosity, his passion for understanding biology and his wonderful collegiality will make him an exceptional physician-scientist. Harvard is lucky to recruit one of our leaders and best!”—Beth Moore, PhD, ATSF, Nancy Williams Walls PhD Professor and Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Chen (left) with Paramedic John Keast (right) at the Big House, Fall 2024

During his five years of training at U-M, Chen has been working as EMT/Paramedic at Huron Valley Ambulance. Of that experience, he said: “We answer calls for help to everybody and to all situations. We also provide medical standby at the Big House. It’s a great experience to help people, and we’re a very tight community of people who want to serve.” 

Outside of work, Chen is a pilot and enjoys taking friends flying around Ann Arbor. He is also a runner and a swimmer.

Chen (left) with Paramedic Supervisor Gary Pavelock (center) and Paramedic John Keast (right) at the Big House, Fall 2024