Xiaotong (Mark) Wang

I am currently a DPhil student at the Department of Psychiatry and Big Data Institute, working under the supervision of Professor Naomi Wray and Professor Peter Visscher. My research centers on quantitative genetics, with a particular interest in understanding complex human traits and diseases.  

Complex human traits and diseases, such as depression and schizophrenia, are polygenic in nature, posing unique challenges in identifying all causal variants and fully elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms behind these disorders. My work aims to develop more effective statistical methods for interpreting human hereditary material, which are then applied to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of complex psychiatric disorders.

Before embarking on my DPhil journey, I began my academic career at the School of Basic Medical Science at Peking University. I later transferred to the University of Toronto, where I completed an Honors Bachelor of Science degree, double majoring in Statistics and Immunology. I earned my Doctor of Medicine at the University of Queensland and became a part of the Programs in Complex Trait Genomics (PCTG). My clinical experiences, particularly those involving critically ill patients and the noticeable gaps in treatment outcomes, strongly influenced my decision to pursue a career as a clinician-scientist. My time at PCTG served as a pivotal moment, solidifying my aspiration to act as a liaison between clinicians and biostatisticians to improve patient care.

Outside my academic and professional life, I am an avid sports enthusiast and an amateur tennis player. My interests also extend to trains, airplanes, and mechanics. Additionally, I have a particular fondness for corgis.