Diego Barra Avila
PhD student
in Biomedical Engineering Program
Washington University in St. Louis
About Me
I am a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering with a focus on using computational and data-driven approaches to better understand complex biological systems. My research explores how individual components interact to produce coordinated, large-scale behavior, with applications in cancer and tissue biology. I build models, develop analytical tools, and work with large datasets to extract meaningful insights from complex systems. My experience includes scientific computing, algorithm development, and translating quantitative results into clear, actionable conclusions. I enjoy working at the intersection of computation, data, and biology, where analytical thinking and problem-solving can help uncover patterns in complex systems. I am particularly interested in opportunities in computational biology, applied data science, and modeling-focused roles where I can contribute strong quantitative skills while learning from cross-functional teams in industry.
Education
Aug 2021 - Present: Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis(GPA: 3.60/4.00)
Aug 2020 - May 2021: M.S. in Biomedical Engineering, Arizona State University(GPA: 4.00/4.00)
Aug 2016 - May 2020: B.S.E in Biomedical Engineering, Arizona State University(GPA: 3.85/4.00)
News
- February 2025 - Won 2nd place in Engineering Poster Presentations at WashU Graduate Research Symposium
- December 2025 - Paper published in Cell Reports
- July 2025 - Paper published in Molecular Biology of the Cell
- January 2024 - Passed Thesis Proposal!! Now a Ph.D. Candidate
- August 2022 - Passed Qualifying Exam!!!
- July 2022 - Officially joined Dr. Amit Pathak's Cellular Mechanobiology Lab
- June 2022 - Began rotation in Dr. Amit Pathak's lab
- May 2022 - Ended rotation in Dr. Geoffrey Goodhill's lab
- March 2022 - Began rotation in Dr. Geoffrey Goodhill's Lab
- March 2022 - Ended rotation in Dr. Barani Raman's Lab
- Dec 2021 - Began rotation in Dr. Barani Raman's Lab
- Nov 2021 - Research work done while at Arizona State University published in PLOS Comput Biol
- Nov 2021 - Ended rotation in Dr. ShiNung Ching's Lab
- Sept 2021 - Began rotation in Dr. ShiNung Ching's Lab
- Aug 2021 - Started PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis
- May 2021 - Graduated from Arizon State University with MS in Biomedical Engineering
- April 2021 - Defended MS thesis