We’re excited to introduce Shiny Martis, the newly appointed Chair of the VPHi Young Scientists Committee (YSC)!
With her strong background in computational biology and deep commitment to in silico medicine, Shiny brings both expertise and enthusiasm to her new role. Let’s hear more from her in this short interview.
Congratulations on your new role! What motivated you to get involved with the Executive Committee and the Young Scientists Committee?
Thank you! My deep passion for in silico medicine brought me close to VPH, where I proudly serve as an Executive Committee member from January 2025. I consider myself an advocate for in silico approaches. Joining the Young Scientists Committee was a natural step: it gives me the opportunity to support early-career researchers, share my experiences, and learn alongside them, all while contributing to the broader goals of VPH.
Can you briefly introduce yourself to our community?
I’m currently working as a Senior Regulatory Scientist at VCLS France, specializing in in silico technologies. I hold a PhD in Computational Biology and focus on the development of virtual populations through computational disease models.
My research journey began modelling gene regulation activity in antibiotic development, and I’ve since gained experience in PBPK and QSP modeling for drug development. I believe in harvesting the potential of modelling and simulation combined with biology knowledge in advancing patient care: early and robust prediction will speed up medical innovation and improve patient outcomes.
As Chair, what are your main goals for the Young Scientists Committee during your mandate?
My main goal is to promote student activity and create stronger collaborations between young researchers and senior members of the VPHi community. I want to help young scientists advance their research by giving them access to mentorship, visibility, and support through our network.
What do you think are the biggest opportunities (or challenges) for young researchers in this field today?
The biggest opportunity for the young scientists today is to have an infrastructure in the current in silico medicine market to derive novel technologies. This comes with its own challenges of being able to find the right collaborators or accessing high-quality data. While ideas are plentiful, meaningful partnerships are essential for turning those ideas into impactful research. That’s what we strive to provide to the students within the VPH community.
How can young scientists get more involved in the YSC or benefit from its activities?
VPH offers a space where young scientists can find peers, make friends, and discover new dimensions to their research. The YSC is here to support you—whether that’s through events, collaborations, or just conversations that open up new ideas. By tapping into this community, you can unlock opportunities that may not have been visible before.
A fun one to close: what’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
Outside of work, I love culinary experiments! I let my research brain run wild in the kitchen, always trying to invent new dishes and flavors.
Welcome, Shiny! We’re excited to see how your leadership will help grow and inspire the next generation of in silico medicine researchers.
Want to get involved with the YSC? Reach out or keep an eye on upcoming events and opportunities on our website.
