Current Website CV

Genevieve H.L. Roberts (Andersen)

SUMMARY

Seasoned statistical geneticist and multi-omics data scientist with deep expertise in genetics-driven drug discovery, a robust record of high-impact publications, and industry experience at leading AI-powered biotech companies.

EDUCATION

University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus	Aurora, CO
PhD, Human Medical Genetics and Genomics Dissertation: “The Genetic Architecture of Vitiligo and Vitiligo Subtypes”	June 2019

Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff, AZ
BS, Microbiology (Magna Cum Laude)	May 2013

KEY SKILLS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Statistical Genetics & Genetic Epidemiology

Genetics Product Development: Successfully developed and implemented personalized trait prediction models at Ancestry.com [1]
Genetics-driven Target Discovery: Led Ancestry.com study on genetic factors influencing COVID-19 susceptibility and severity, contributing to new drug target identification by collaborators at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. [2, 3]
Translational “Omics” Research: Identified precision therapies, disease biomarkers, and stratified patient populations for clinical trials by integrating genomics, proteomics, electronic medical record (EMR), and survey data using UK Biobank.
Extensive Publication Record: Authored 18 peer-reviewed papers spanning target discovery, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polygenic risk scores (PRS), heritability, and CRISPR screening, with over 2,000 citations. [4]

Machine Learning & Multi-Omics Studies

scRNAseq Analysis: Developed a Python pipeline for interpreting and visualizing scRNAseq read-outs. [5]

AI/ML: Proposed an AI/ML knowledge graph method for target prioritization, adopted by Recursion Pharmaceuticals. [6]
Bias Mitigation: Identified and corrected a major bias in CRISPR-cas9 screening data; correction adopted by DepMap. [7, 8]

Scalable Programming in R and Python

Production-Quality Tools: Developed Python packages for the “Recursion OS,” managing AI-driven screening results from over 2 million perturbed cell line images.
Leveraged Cloud Computing for Scalability: Employed AWS cloud computing at Ancestry to perform scalable genomic association analyses on up to 16 million DNA samples.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Gen-Omix, LLC

Statistical Genetics Consultant (January 2024-Present)

Launched an independent consulting practice specializing in statistical genetics and data analysis for biotech companies, offering

solutions for drug discovery and patient stratification. Services include:

Custom genetic association studies and PRS creation
Comprehensive drug target reports summarizing large-scale clinical and genetic evidence
Target and biomarker discovery using machine learning models and biobank data
Scalable, reproducible data analysis workflows in Python and R, optimized for cloud environments

Foresite Labs

Senior Scientist — Statistical Genomics (April 2023-January 2024)

Supported early-stage biotech startups by developing strategies for leveraging genetic data in drug discovery.

Utilized publicly available datasets (UK Biobank, OpenTargets, GTEx, etc.) to evaluate therapeutic hypotheses
Communicated data-driven insights to stakeholders, supporting investment decisions and strategic planning
Developed statistical tools in Python and R to enhance drug discovery pipelines

Recursion Pharmaceuticals

Senior Data Scientist — Human Statistical Genetics (May 2021-December 2022)

Marrying external genetic studies with Recursion’s “cellular phenomics” drug discovery platform.

Combined large-scale public genomic datasets with deep learning cell imaging data to drive target discovery
Provided expertise in genetic association resources by consulting with multiple therapeutic areas
Developed research plans for hypothesis validation, following preliminary target identification

AncestryDNA

Genetic Epidemiologist (August 2019-May 2021)

Genotypic and phenotypic analysis of the world’s largest consumer genetic database.

Led the development of PRS-based traits for AncestryDNA’s consumer product line
Directed genetic analyses of COVID-19, resulting in multiple high-impact publications and external collaborations
Designed and executed numerous genetic studies using advanced statistical methods

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus

Graduate Student (August 2014-August 2019)

Conducted genetic studies of autoimmune vitiligo, identifying susceptibility loci and analyzing genetic risk factors in diverse populations. Published multiple peer-reviewed articles on the findings.

Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University

Undergraduate Research Assistant (May 2011-September 2013)

Performed phylogenetic and phylogeographic studies of Yersinia pestis, enhancing the understanding of plague dispersal.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

For a complete list of 18 coauthored publications, please visit my Google Scholar page.
*=These authors made equal contributions

**=Large consortium paper with many authors

G.H.L. Roberts, P.R. Fain, S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz (2024). Inverse relationship between polygenic risk burden and age of onset of autoimmune vitiligo. The American Journal of Human Genetics, 111(11), 2561-2565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.09.007

J.A. Kosmicki…G.H.L. Roberts…G.R. Abecasis & M.A.R Ferreira. (2024) Genetic risk factors for COVID-19 and influenza are largely distinct. Nature Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-024-01844-1

N.H. Lazar…G.H.L. Roberts, C.C. Gibson & I.S. Haque. (2023) High-resolution genome-wide mapping of chromosome-arm-scale truncations induced by CRISPR-Cas9 editing. bioRxiv, 2023-04. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.04.15.537038

G.H.L. Roberts*, R. Partha*, B. Rhead*…K.A. Rand. (2022) Expanded COVID-19 phenotype definitions reveal phenotypically distinct patterns of genetic association and protective effects. Nature Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-022-01042-x

J.E. Horowitz, J.A. Kosmicki, A. Damask, D. Sharma, G.H.L. Roberts…G.R. Abecasis & M.A. Ferreira. (2022) Genome-wide analysis provides genetic evidence that ACE2 influences COVID-19 risk and yields risk scores associated with severe disease. Nature Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-021-01006-7

COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative [G.H.L. Roberts**, Analysis Lead]. (2021) Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03767-x

G.H.L. Roberts, S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz. (2020). Deep genotype imputation captures virtually all heritability of autoimmune vitiligo. Human Molecular Genetics. 29(5), 859-863. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddaa005

G.H.L. Roberts, S. Paul, D. Yorgov, S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz. (2019) Family clustering of autoimmune vitiligo results principally from polygenic inheritance of common risk alleles. The American Journal of Human Genetics. 105(2), 364-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.06.013

Y. Jin*, G.H.L. Roberts*, S. Paul, D. Yorgov, S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz. (2019) Early-onset autoimmune vitiligo associated with an enhancer variant haplotype that upregulates class II HLA expression. Nature Communications. 10(1), 391-391. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08337-4

Y. Jin, G.H. Andersen, S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz. (2017) Multiple functional variants of IFIH1, a gene involved

in triggering innate immune responses, protect against vitiligo. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Feb;137(2):522-524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jid.2016.09.021

Y. Jin, G. Andersen, D. Yorgov…S.A. Santorico, & R.A. Spritz. (2016) Genome-wide association studies of autoimmune vitiligo identify 23 new risk loci and highlight key pathways and regulatory variants. Nature Genetics. Nov;48(11):1418-1424. https://doi.org/10.1038/ng.3680

A.J. Vogler, F. Chan, R. Nottingham, G. Andersen, K. Drees, S.M. Beckstrom-Sternberg, D.M. Wagner,

S. Chanteau & P. Keim. (2013) A decade of plague in Mahajanga, Madagascar: insights into the global maritime

spread of pandemic plague. MBio. Feb 12;4(1):e00623-12. https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00623-12

SELECTED PRESENTATIONS

G.H.L. Roberts. Expanded COVID‑19 phenotype definitions reveal phenotypically distinct patterns of genetic association and protective effects. American Thoracic Society Journal Club, Section on Genetics and Genomics, April 2021. (Invited Talk) Available online

G.H.L. Roberts. AncestryDNA COVID-19 Genome-wide Association Studies. COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative Update, August 2020. (Invited Talk) Available online, beginning at minute 26.

G.H.L. Roberts. Introduction to Statistical Genetics: Genome-wide Association Studies of Autoimmune Vitiligo. University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus First Year Master’s CORE Course, Aurora, Colorado, October 2018. (Guest Lecturer)

G.H.L. Roberts. Genetic Architecture of Familial Vitiligo. 5th Annual Power of Informatics to Advance Health Symposium, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, April 2018. (Invited Talk)

G.H.L. Andersen, S. Birlea, S.A. Santorico, R.A. Spritz. Unraveling the Genetic Architecture of Vitiligo in an Isolated, Romanian Village. International Pigment Cell Conference, Denver, Colorado, August 2017. (Talk)

PATENTS

Estimation of Phenotypes using DNA, Pedigree, and Historical Data (US 20210134391A1)

2021

FUNDING & AWARDS

Reviewers’ Choice Poster Award, American Society for Human Genetics Annual Meeting	2016
Travel Fellowship, Advanced Gene Mapping Course at Rockefeller University	2016
Training in Immunodermatology Grant (T32 AR007411-31A1), Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine	2015-2017
Graduating Senior Award, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society	2013
Nancy and Henry Wettaw General Chemistry Award & Scholarship, Northern Arizona University	2012
High Honors Tuition Scholarship, Arizona Board of Regents	2009-2013