Marie Corradi is a Data Scientist and a PhD candidate at the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, which is one of the partners in the ONTOX project. Marie is inspired to work in ONTOX by the novel way the project is trying to integrate data and machine learning into the field of toxicology, on top of the development of the new in vitro tests.
Dive into the following lines of the next ONTOX #YoungScientist Series and learn more about Marie.
Originally, Marie received training as a food engineer with an emphasis on statistics. In addition, she holds an MSc in bioinformatics. As a teenager, she recalls, she liked reading math books and solving equations. It was not surprising that she would grow to love data analysis in her later years. She began at the HU as a data scientist, but a few months later, as part of the ONTOX project, she coupled her job as a data scientist with a PhD.
Marie, within ONTOX, you work in WP5 on data integration, ontology and AI. What are your current roles?
Within ONTOX, I try to develop (AI) systems that can support researchers in establishing mode-of-action ontologies. In particular, I investigate the use of NLP (Natural Language Processing) to extract information from (scientific) text. I have recently worked on the DARTpaths project, which aimed to integrate physiological information available about different model organisms (mammals, nematodes, and zebrafish) to better understand developmental and reproductive toxicity. I am also involved in VHP4Safety, which aims to predict toxicity based on human physiology rather than animal testing. I appreciate that ONTOX is trying to integrate data and machine learning into the field of toxicology, on top of the development of new in vitro tests.
Is there something in your career that you are particularly proud of?
In my previous career in the industry, I have worked on developing a product which I now see on the shelves of liquor stores all around the EU. Seeing something you have worked on so tangibly is a very rewarding feeling!
Are there any specific goals you hope ONTOX will accomplish?
With such a big consortium based in multiple countries, ONTOX provides some very interesting opportunities for collaboration with colleagues from all over the world. We are making great progress since the project started, and I think that’s a testament to all the talented minds contributing to ONTOX.
“With such a big consortium based in multiple countries, ONTOX provides some very interesting opportunities for collaboration with colleagues from all over the world. We are making great progress since the project started, and I think that’s a testament to all the talented minds contributing to ONTOX.”
As a young scientist, what has been the most difficult obstacle you have experienced?
It can be difficult to balance your personal and professional life, particularly since I took quite some time off after my daughter was born last year. Luckily, I have a very supportive partner and an amazing team at the HU!
In science or life in general, who is your biggest inspiration?
My family and my partner have always encouraged me in whatever I wanted to pursue. My partner herself has already had three successful careers in very different fields, and I am very inspired by how she adjusted and thrived in each of them. Besides that, I always enjoy seeing women breaking the glass ceiling in STEM and computer science in particular. As recent examples, I could mention Timnit Gebru (who famously got fired from Google for writing the Stochastic Parrot paper with Emily M. Bender and others), Daphne Koller (one of the co-founders of Coursera) or Mira Murati (the CTO of OpenAI).
Do you have any scientific plans for the future?
Obviously, first I need to complete my PhD! Then, I would like to remain in the field of data science. I think there are exciting opportunities ahead, whether in generative AI or other machine learning approaches. I am also very interested in science communication, particularly in visualizing data to convey scientific messages.
Apart from using science to improve the world, what other hobbies do you pursue?
I enjoy reading, baking, and origami. A crane I folded was even a part of a recent ONTOX meeting break 🙂 – and I already have requests to teach other colleagues at the next in-person ONTOX meeting.
I have also trained in martial arts since I was a teenager: I have a brown belt in aikido, and I practice kickboxing weekly.
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