Emma Anne Wilkinson, PhD, graduated in Winter 2024 from the Cancer Biology program and received the Program Award for Outstanding Performance in the General Field of Cancer Biology. Her dissertation, Elucidating the Role of ALKBH1 in Arsenic-Induced Skin Tumorigenesis, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Yu-Ying He, investigated the molecular mechanisms by which the DNA demethylase ALKBH1 contributes to carcinogenesis following arsenic exposure. Her work sheds light on critical epigenetic pathways involved in environmentally induced skin cancers and highlights potential targets for prevention and intervention.
Emma brought a strong interest in environmental toxicology and cancer epigenetics to her doctoral studies. At UChicago, she was recognized for her rigorous research and collaborative approach, contributing meaningfully to the understanding of how environmental factors shape cancer risk at the molecular level.
She is currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where she continues her research in cancer epigenetics and environmental exposures.