Gadareth Higgs

“Ramapo College introduced me to bioinformatics research, while providing me ample opportunities to make friends and lead extracurricular groups such as the Bioinformatics Club and the Students of Caribbean Ancestry (SOCA). The bioinformatics, socialization, and leadership skills I honed at Ramapo College proved critical to later experiences. They allowed me to succeed as a Safety, Health, and Environmental Business Analyst at the Bahamas Oil Refining Company, where I led the terminal to the greatest audit improvement in Vopak history, leading to BORCO being sold for three times its purchase price within four years. Simultaneously, I attained a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics at Rutgers. I then moved on to attain my Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology, respectively, from Yale.

Most importantly, the skills I honed and friendships I gained at Ramapo College have improved the way I interact with the world and permeate my everyday life. I am thankful to the Ramapo students, staff, and faculty, especially Dr. Bagga, Dr. D’Antonio, Dr. Bacon, Dr. Felix (retired), Dr. Mentore, Dr. Petro, Dr. Philip Anderson, and Dr. Kowal (nee Potocka). I look forward to continuing to give back to Ramapo with my time, energy, money, and presence.”

– Gadareth Higgs ’08 graduated as a double major in Biochemistry and Bioinformatics, with minors in Chemistry and Computer Science. While at Ramapo, Gadareth completed research on the Analysis of QGRS in Mammals and he was part of the Honors Program. Gadareth went on to receive his M.S. in Biomedical Informatics in 2010 from Rutgers and then; his M.S. in Bioinformatics in 2014 and his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology in 2021 both from Yale University. He is currently an Associate Consultant at McKinsey-New York.

Awards:
Discovering Over 50 Novel Riboswitch Candidates in my Yale PhD (2021); Yale: Grad Student Assembly Academic & Prof. Dev. Chair (2020-2021), BBS Diversity Empowerment Chair (2018-2020), Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Member (2019), 6th Annual Fusion Nucleic Acids Conference Poster Winner (2019), GradPI Founder (2017), President’s Public Service Fellow (2014), Black Graduate Student Network Chair (2012-2014), Yale Journal of Bio. & Med. Publicity Chair and Bioinformatics Issue Editor (2012-2014); Who’s Who Among: Executives (2010), Students in American Universities & Colleges (2008); RCNJ-Student Graduate Speaker (after Cory Booker) (2008), President of the Bioinformatics Club and SOCA, PhiDE Med Frat VP of Finance, ODK Leadership Society Treasurer and ALD First Year Student Leader Award; Harvard Bauer Lab Summer Intern (2007), UPenn SUMR Scholar (2006); Governor General’s Youth Award (G.G.Y.A.) Gold Recipient (2009)