Posted by Ancestry Team on October 3, 2013 in Inside our Offices, Science

Recently, Catherine Ball, VP of Genomics and Bioinformatics for AncestryDNA was announced as a winner for the Women Tech Awards, presented by the Women Tech Council, under the Trailblazer category. The award recognizes technology-focused women who are driving innovation, influencing technology companies, and are passionate about the community.  Other award winners came from companies such as ATK Aerospace Group, Domo, and eBay.

Cathy is a truly remarkable woman. For almost two decades, she has worked as a genomic scientist to help physicians, citizens and other scientists get the most out of genome data. From analyzing data related to large-scale biomedical experiments – well before the current “Big Data” trend – to collaborating on the annotation of the first eukaryotic genome (brewer’s yeast), Cathy has positioned herself and her team on the cutting edge of technology and science. Over the course of her career, Cathy has authored scores of scientific publications, organized several scientific conferences, given dozens of guest lectures, and reviewed hundreds of federal grant proposals and scientific manuscripts that have been key to shedding further light on diverse research topics.

Cathy’s most recent efforts include leading a team of population geneticists, statisticians, and computer scientists to create the analytical approaches behind the AncestryDNA direct-to-consumer genotyping services.

She was born and raised in a small beachside town on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  Exploring tide pools, streams and rain forests helped spark Cathy’s interest in biology; and living in such a multicultural community provided insights into the ways a person’s life can be affected by family history.

Cathy applies the scientific method to everything she does, which is why this award and The Women Tech Council truly embody Cathy’s desire for each of us to stay curious, be honest, have a sense of humor and search out ways to help those around you grow.

Thanks to the Women Tech Council for providing recognition to women that are driving innovation and influencing technology companies. The Women Tech Council’s mission to provide leadership, resources and mentoring for women, while maintaining a strong bond with the business community has been pivotal to developing top technology talent.

Cathy photo 2

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