Selin Sevgi, PhD is a geneticist specialising in functional genomics and cancer biology, with a focus on translating genetic variation into biological understanding.
Selin completed her undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics at Koç University in Istanbul, graduating in 2019. She then moved to London to pursue an MSc in Human Molecular Genetics at Imperial College London, graduating with distinction in 2020. Her MSc research project was carried out at the Francis Crick Institute, where she worked on the analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing data to explore the immune-modulatory roles of enteric glial cells. Inspired by this experience, she stayed on at the Crick as a research assistant for a further year, contributing to high-impact research projects and publications while continuing to build both experimental and computational expertise.
She subsequently undertook a PhD at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) London, where her research focused on functionally characterising genetic variants associated with breast cancer risk. Using CRISPR-based perturbation approaches and gene expression profiling, she identified regulatory regions of the genome and their target genes to uncover mechanisms underlying breast cancer risk. Her work bridged genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with experimental functional validation.
Throughout her academic journey, Selin has always been fascinated by the complexity of how genetic variation influences cellular function and contributes to disease, which has shaped her path in molecular and cancer genetics. Having trained across multiple international research environments, she brings a collaborative mindset, adaptability, and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary science.
“No masterpiece was ever created by a lazy artist.”
– Salvador Dali