By investigating evolutionary history using high throughput genomic tools, Elinor works to identify genes, pathways, and functional variants underlying polygenic diseases, and translate these discoveries into advances in human health care. She is currently using this approach to find genetic variation that alters susceptibility to infectious diseases, like cholera, as well as psychiatric disorders, using dogs as a model. Her research relies on collaboration with citizen scientists through the dog genetics project Darwin’s Dogs. Elinor received her B.A. in biochemistry/cell biology from Rice University, and earned her Ph.D. in bioinformatics from Boston University. She did her postdoctoral research with Dr. Pardis Sabeti at Harvard University.