Lucille Tomin
When searching for doctoral programs, Lucille Tomin prioritized strong interconnectedness and opportunities for interdisciplinary work.
Lucille Tomin was born and raised in Hungary and moved to the United States on her 16th birthday to pursue an education in science.
After earning her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology and molecular biosciences from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Tomin worked in the biotech and health care industries, both on the laboratory and clinical side to broaden her experience and confirm her interest in pursuing a doctoral degree.
She is currently a trainee in the doctoral program in biomedical informatics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and works in the lab of Zackary M. Falls, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical informatics.
When looking at biomedical informatics doctoral programs, what qualities were most important to you?
When searching for doctoral programs, I prioritized strong interconnectedness and opportunities for interdisciplinary work. In addition to strong scientific collaboration, I also wanted to join a program where I could be an active member of the community and build a meaningful and professional social network.
What specific attributes about UB’s program appealed to you the most?
UB’s PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) stood out due to its deep integration across all biomedical science departments within the medical school.
Given the inherently cross-disciplinary nature of biomedical informatics, the ability to collaborate broadly with researchers in diverse areas was especially important to me.
This breadth of collaboration and access to varied scientific perspectives is ultimately what drew me to the program.
What is the training atmosphere like in the doctoral program?
I would describe the training atmosphere as highly personalized, allowing each student to define their specific interests within biomedical informatics.
The program empowers students to lead innovative projects that align with their passions and contribute meaningfully to the field.
How has your mentor, Dr. Falls, guided your educational journey?
My mentor has been instrumental in guiding my educational journey, not by prescribing a specific path, but by helping me explore the possibilities within my own research interests. Our discussions push me to think critically, challenge assumptions, and consider innovative techniques when facing problems.
I believe it’s essential for doctoral mentors to not push students toward predetermined answers. I personally find this approach helping me develop my scientific intuition.