Ashley Mae
Conard, Ph.D.

Biomedical ML, Microsoft Research Health Futures

I build interpretable AI and human‑in‑the‑loop platforms that support scientists and clinicians in diagnosing and treating rare diseases and cancer. With experience across both wet and dry labs, I design AI methods from temporal, multi‑omic, and clinical text data that reveal actionable biological insights and enable expert‑driven in silico hypothesis testing.

Ph.D. in Computer Science and Computational Biology from Brown University, advised by Dr. Lorin Crawford, Dr. Erica Larschan, and Dr. Charles Lawrence, supported by an NSF GRFP, with a Postdoctoral fellowship in Biostatistics also at Brown. Previously a Fulbright Research Scholar. Bachelors in Computer Science and Biochemistry from DePauw University, where I founded a farm supported by Dr. Jane Goodall.

Ashley Mae Conard, Ph.D. on stage at Grace Hopper Celebration
25+ Publications
10+ Students Mentored
10+ Board & Leadership Roles
10+ Fellowships & Awards

About

☀️ By day, I am a Senior Researcher on the Biomedical ML team at Microsoft Research Health Futures in Cambridge, MA. My work currently centers on epigenomics‑based disease diagnostics and therapeutics, in collaboration with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Previously, I contributed to founding Phenome Health under Dr. Leroy Hood. Before that, I conducted game-theoretic protein design as a Fulbright Research Scholar in Belgium with Dr. Tom Lenaerts. Internships at Microsoft Research, Google, Deloitte, Vanderbilt University, Eli Lilly, and MIT Lincoln Laboratory in biodefense with Dr. Jeremy Kepner.

🌙 By night, I serve on Boards and build programs to empower the next generation of underrepresented groups in science. I am currently a U.S. D-Day Ambassador and an Advisor to flok and Tomorrow's Women Today. Formerly, I served on the MIA Steering Committee at the Broad Institute, as ISCB Student Symposium Finance Chair, as a U.S.-NATO Affairs Delegate, on the Board of Directors of the Fulbright Association, and on the Board of Trustees of AnitaB.org, where I created lasting programs. I am a mother, former college soccer athlete, and Aikido Kokikai practitioner who speaks fluent French and Spanish.

Ashley Mae Conard inside the European Parliament chamber in Brussels

Translating TPP legislation discussions in the European Parliament · Brussels

Ashley Mae Conard speaking on a panel at a tech conference
Panel Speaker · Grace Hopper Celebration
Ashley Conard at a Fulbright reception with Chancellor Angela Merkel
Fulbright Reception with Chancellor Angela Merkel
Ashley Conard at the European Parliament in Brussels
European Parliament · Brussels
Ashley Mae Conard at the 75th D-Day Commemoration ceremony in Normandy, France, 2019
75th D-Day Commemoration · Normandy, 2019
Ashley Mae Conard presenting rare disease research to the patient community at flok
Rare Disease Research · Patient Community Presenter
Ashley Mae Conard speaking at MIA 10-Year Anniversary at the Broad Institute, 2025
MIA 10-Year Anniversary Speaker · Broad Institute, 2025
Ashley Mae Conard speaking at StartUp Week Boston, 2025
StartUp Week Boston Speaker · 2025
Ashley Mae Conard speaking at IEEE Supercomputing, 2025
IEEE Supercomputing Speaker · 2025

Publications & Software

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Interested in collaboration, speaking invitations, or mentorship? Reach out, I'd love to hear from you.