Young P.E.I. scientist earns Harvard fellowship

Chelsea Lowther was chosen from a pool of 1,000 candidates from across Canada. The position includes funding of $51,000 a year for three years.

Lowther has been researching a possible connection between neuro-developmental disorders and genetics for seven years.

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"The plan is to apply a new technique, which is called whole-genome sequencing, to a population of individuals who have autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability," she said.

"We've looking for new genes associated with those two neural development disorders."

Lowther will be moving to Boston in the fall to begin her work at the Harvard lab.

This is important step forward in her career, said Lowther, who hopes to become an independent scientist in the future.

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