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Author Irene Park

Irene Park

Academic Correspondent, Medicine and Genetics

Irene Park is a third-year Human Genetics PhD student at the University of Michigan Medical School. She double-majored in Biological Sciences and Philosophy at Cornell University, allowing her to explore and learn both biology and logical writing. Currently, Irene’s PhD thesis project is focused on a phenomenon called genome instability, which is an accumulation of mutations in the cells. Genome instability is a hallmark for many human diseases, including cancer. When she is not manipulating cells in her laboratory, Irene works a news reporter at The Michigan Daily, a student-run newspaper at the U of M, mainly covering issues and events about science, technology, and health. She also is a student blogger for her graduate school, often writing about more personal topics like dealing with the Imposter Syndrome. Combining her interests in science and writing, Irene wants to communicate science to a broader audience to both educate the public about science and learn more about the diverse science topics herself.

Your Inner Fish: A Scientist’s Surprising Top Reads for Summer

Irene Park

Science, Science & Medicine

In this week’s Top Reads, Science Correspondent Irene Park has five top picks that explore the big questions of the human condition: mind, identity, death, and evolution. 1. Quiet: The Power of Introverts...

Why is Genome Instability a Hallmark of Cancer and Aging?

Irene Park

Medicine, Science, Science & Medicine

One of my college biology professors once told his students that when a person lives long enough, he or she will eventually get cancer. He wasn’t wrong—older age is a major risk for developing cancer as...