Shraddha is a neuroscientist, musician, photographer & astrophotographer, political advocate, and tech geek. Her research lab studies childhood and adult brain cancer, seeking to understand it and develop new diagnostic tests and therapies for it. Her music is cosmopolitan, classy, and filled with escapism. Her photography seeks to capture mystery, mood, and marvel in nature, the everyday, and the imagination. The tech stuff … well, we just can’t help ourselves.
Training
2004 B.Math. Hon. Computer Science, University of Waterloo, Canada
2010 Ph.D. Biological Science (systems neuroscience)
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY, USA
2010-2014 Postdoctoral Fellow – Epigenetics, brain & psychosis, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto
2015-2020 Postdoctoral Fellow – Machine learning for precision medicine, The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto
Current Affiliations
2024 – present: Faculty, Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
2021 – present: Member, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto chapter
2021 – present: Faculty, Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops
2021 – present: Assistant Professor, Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto
1997 – present: Member, Ontario Konkani Association
Major Projects
Solving Brain Cancer Through Epigenetics – Shraddha Pai Research Lab at Ontario Institute for Cancer Research
Music – Jazz, Swing and occasional Bollywood shows in Toronto, on Youtube
2020-21: Creator & Lead, COVID Schools Canada: Crowd-sourced map tracking COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in Canadian schools. Promote transparency and advocacy for safe schools during COVID-19. Project through advocacy group Masks4Canada. Head team of 13 volunteers
Awards and Honours
2024 – Runner Up, Panorama India Idol
2022 – Ray Thompson Award for Astronomical Imaging, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto chapter
2019 – Donnelly Centre Research Excellence Award
2016 – Room with a View. Best in Show. NeuroCentric Arts Competition, Collaborative Program in Neuroscience, University of Toronto
2014 – Brain & Behavior Foundation NARSAD Young Investigator Award
2004 – Natural Sciences Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Canada Graduate Scholarship
09/2003 Hon. Mention, Computing Research Assoc. Outstanding Undergraduate Awards
09/2003 iAnywhere Solutions Software Development Scholarship
Multiple terms. University of Waterloo Senate Scholarship
1999 Architel Systems Corporation Entrance Scholarship
Teaching
2024 – Lead Instructor. Canadian Bioinformatics Workshop, Analysis using R
2023 – Lead Instructor. Canadian Bioinformatics Workshop, Analysis using R
2021 – Module lead. Canadian Bioinformatics Workshop, Multi-modal data integration (Cancer Genome Analysis)
Science Outreach
2024. U Toronto, Collab Prog. in Neurosci: Research Day poster judge
2020-21. Masks4Canada. Public health outreach during COVID-19 pandemic
2015. U Toronto, Collab Prog. in Neurosci: Research Day poster judge
2015. University of Toronto Brain Bee Creative Panel
2011-2015. Ontario Konkani Association. Career booth on academia
2010. ThinkFirst Brain Day. Helmet safety, brain facts at middle school
4/22/2010. Radio interview. “Aging and the Brain”, Hum Desi Radio
2005 – 2008. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Hosted recruits, represented graduate at fairs
2007 – 2008. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Science Fair. Diversity of animal sensory organs
Media Appearances
29 Mar 2021. Global News. COVID-19: ‘Every indication’ schools will remain open, Ontario education minister says
4 Feb 2021. Winnipeg Free Press. Province launches school COVID dashboard.
29 Jan 2021. Winnipeg Free Press. Vague school-case COVID information frustrates Manitoba parents, national monitor.
21 Jan 2021. Toronto.com. Toronto resident Shraddha Pai helping paint a clearer picture of pandemic’s impact.
5 Jan 2021. CBC Metro Morning. A scientist makes the case for extending school closures, with supports.
23 Nov 2020. New York Times. In Canada, a push to keep schools open in second lockdown.
19 Nov 2020. CBC Syndicated Radio. Interviews. COVID-19 in schools and school closures.
19 Nov 2020. Toronto Star. NYC has just shuttered its entire public school system. Where is Toronto headed?.
1 Oct 2020. CBC Syndicated Radio. Interviews. Canada COVID-19 School Tracker Data and Safe Schools.
14 Sep 2020. Maclean’s Magazine. COVID and our schools.
13 Sep 2020. Toronto Star. How will COVID-19 play out in GTA schools?
8 Sep 2020. CTV Ottawa. Group tracking COVID-19 in schools across Canada.
26 Aug 2020. CBC Syndicated Radio. Interviews. Mask-wearing in Schools during COVID-19.
Publications
Shraddha’s research publications are on Google Scholar.