Anna Kishida Thomas
Ph.D. Candidate in Mathematics · University of Pittsburgh
I build mechanistic, ODE-based models of biological systems and analyze them with
dynamical systems theory, including multiple timescale methods, geometric singular
perturbation theory, and bifurcation analysis. The goal is to identify
which mechanisms produce an experimentally observed behavior, and to predict how the system
responds when that mechanism is perturbed.
In my doctoral work, advised by Jonathan E. Rubin at the University of Pittsburgh,
I develop conductance-based models of brainstem motor circuits relevant to Parkinson’s
disease and deep brain stimulation. I have applied the same quantitative approach
in drug development: population PK and exposure–response modeling at
Bristol Myers Squibb, and QSP model development at Simulations Plus.
I am seeking roles in QSP, pharmacometrics, and mechanistic modeling
in biotech and pharma, following completion of my Ph.D. (expected Summer 2027).