A black leather jacket, black hoop earrings, black T-shirt and pants. You may visualize a rock star, and Colin Hemez is a rock star of sorts, but he actually works in a white coat, a doctors coat. Yes, he’s a scientist.
Dr. Hemez brings a remarkable blend of science, creativity, and purpose to the fight against cystic fibrosis. Colin was born in France and raised in the high-desert town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, an environment steeped in scientific discovery. Summers interning at Los Alamos National Laboratory sparked his early fascination with how innovation can change lives.
At Yale, he explored the intersection of engineering and art, studying biomedical engineering alongside art history to understand both the precision of science and the elegance of design. But it was a research trip to the Arctic University of Norway that set his path in motion. While building mathematical models of antibiotic resistance, a challenge many people with cystic fibrosis face, Colin discovered his true calling.
Today, he’s a PhD student in Dr. David R. Liu’s renowned laboratory at Harvard, working at the cutting edge of gene editing for cystic fibrosis. Every day, Colin is pushing boundaries, imagining a future where science doesn’t just treat CF but has the power to rewrite its story.
We had to so much fun talking in this podcast. Born in France we talk about Colin’s wonderful siblings and parents. They’re all incredibly smart and making a huge difference in our world.
Outside the lab, Colin reflected on the grounding role of art, music, and outdoor exploration, coping mechanisms that keep him connected to the world he’s trying to impact. Looking ahead, he’s both hopeful and driven: gene editing for cystic fibrosis is no longer a distant dream but a rapidly approaching reality with global implications. His aspirations are bold, but so is the science.
In his view, the future of CF research depends on collaboration, imagination, and staying rooted in why the work matters: to bring healthier, longer lives within reach for every person living with this disease. We sure love his passion for science. You won’t want to miss this Amazing Podcast.
To watch Colin’s PhD https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HizIGiqGdKDgIifT7HF9t0UDVgv0tOKE/view
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