Sarah Catherine Nelson

Sarah Catherine Nelson is a Senior Research Scientist and Project Manager at the Genetic Analysis Center within the University of Washington's Department of Biostatistics. She holds a PhD and MPH in Public Health Genetics from UW. Her work focuses on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genomic research, particularly in clinical and consumer contexts. She has contributed to studies examining third-party genetic data interpretation tools and their societal impacts, emphasizing issues of privacy, data governance, and equitable genomic research practices.

Education:

• PhD in Public Health Genetics, University of Washington (2018)
• MPH in Public Health Genetics, University of Washington (2014)

Research Interests:

Nelson’s research bridges genomics and society, exploring how genetic data is interpreted, shared, and regulated. She investigates the ethical challenges of direct-to-consumer genetic testing and third-party tools, including their role in ancestry tracing, health risk reporting, and law enforcement applications. Her work also addresses disparities in genomic research and the implications of genetic data for marginalized communities.

Awards & Grants:

• Recipient of Population Health pilot grants (2024)
• Honored at SPH Excellence Awards (2022)

Labs & Teams:

Nelson is affiliated with the Genetic Analysis Center, a multidisciplinary group advancing genomic research methods and ethics. She collaborates with teams in biostatistics, public health, and clinical genetics to ensure responsible translation of genomic technologies into practice.