Research Interests: History of biology and biotechnology; history of medicine; history of genetics and eugenics; history of the body; disability history; bioethics; history of psychiatry.

Amalia Sweet (she/her) is a PhD student in the History of Science Department. She is interested in the intellectual history of biological and biomedical research from the twentieth century to the present. Her master’s thesis traced the history of “junk” DNA, detailing a new, earlier origin story for the concept. In her doctoral work, she seeks to interrogate the emergence of translational models of disease in relation to the development of basic biological science.

Amalia’s historical interests derive from her background in biomedical research. She earned her A.B. in biochemistry and worked in cancer and infectious disease labs throughout and for several years after college. Along her path to the field of history of science, Amalia also pursued projects in disability bioethics and maintains side interests in the histories of disability and psychiatry.

Previous Degrees:

B.A., Biochemistry, Smith College

M.A., Social Sciences (History Concentration), University of Chicago