Work with thought leaders and academic experts in genomics

I am a dedicated Scientist-I at Garuda Therapeutics, where I specialize in computational biology and genomics within the R&D department. My work primarily revolves around developing and optimizing pipelines for variant calling using Strelka2 and GATK4 with Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify oncogenes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This involves extensive work in the qualification and validation of these pipelines for regulatory filings, as well as leveraging databases such as ClinVar, COSMIC, and DepMap to craft targeted oncogenes panels for deep sequencing. I also apply Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for downstream sequencing to validate CRISPR knockouts, including the identification and validation of CRISPR off-targets using techniques like rhAMPseq and Induce-seq. Additionally, my expertise extends to single-cell sequencing analysis and understanding structural variants with Optical Genome Mapping (Bionano). Prior to joining Garuda Therapeutics, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in computational biology at Pennsylvania State University, where I honed my skills in identifying climate-adaptive variants and conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to uncover resistance genes against parasites and other stressors. My academic journey began at the University of Vermont, where I explored abiotic stress resistance genes using transcriptomics and developed a robust understanding of RNA-seq data analysis, from assembly to gene annotation. My work is driven by a passion for leveraging computational and genomics tools to address pressing challenges in biology and healthcare, combining my rigorous academic training with a practical, solution-oriented approach to research and development.

My interests broadly lie in the fields of bioinformatics and genomics. My particular areas of emphasis are primate comparative genomics in the context of both evolutionary mechanisms and applications to developing nonhuman primate models of human diseases.

Katie Barr is a bioinformatician with a strong background in computer science. She received her Ph.D in Quantum Information from the University of Leeds in 2013. She also holds an MSc in Mathematical logic and the theory of computation from the University of Manchester, and a BSc in Physics and Philosophy with study in Continental Europe from the University of Bristol. Katie has extensive experience working in the fields of bioinformatics and software development. She has worked as a scientific programmer at the Earlham Institute, a postdoctoral bioinformatician in the Nanomedicine group at the University of Manchester, and is now an Associate Principal Scientist in Bioinformatics at Kromek. Katie is passionate about using her knowledge and skills to improve the lives of others and she is dedicated to the advancement of science and technology. She believes in the power of collaboration and works to create meaningful partnerships between industry and academia.

Dr. Justin P. Whalley was educated in the UK (M.Sci. Mathematics, University of Bristol) and France (Ph.D. Bioinformatics, University of Évry). He moved to Spain to work as a postdoc at the National Center for Genomic Analysis (CNAG). During his time there, he ran the Quality Control working group for the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project to assess the data coming in and reduce batch effects. This involved collaboration with researchers from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the German Cancer Research Center and the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK. He returned to the UK to work as a [Senior Bioinformatician at the University of Oxford](https://www.well.ox.ac.uk/people/jpw/). His time there coincided with the global pandemic and he was deeply involved in the COvid-19 Multi-omics Blood ATlas (COMBAT) consortium as the lead for the Integration (Tensor) working group. Dr. Whalley became a member of the [faculty of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science](https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/academics/faculty/justin-p-whalley/) in January 2023.

Dr. Brittan S. Scales is a highly educated and experienced microbiologist and immunologist with a passion for infectious diseases and public health. She received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor in 2015, where she focused on studying the interactions between the lung microbiome and immune response. She also obtained her Master of Public Health degree in Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2009. After completing her Ph.D., Dr. Scales worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Michigan's Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research in Germany. Her research during this time focused on understanding the role of microbes in the environment and their impact on human health. Most recently, Dr. Scales worked as a Ph.D. Production Expert at ScaleAI, where she utilized her expertise in coding, math, and science to develop software solutions for various industries. She also continues to conduct research and publish papers in the fields of microbiology and immunology. Dr. Scales is dedicated to using her knowledge and skills to contribute to the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases and promote public health. She is a highly sought-after expert in her field and is committed to making a positive impact in the scientific community and beyond.

Marie Mooney, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics at the University of North Florida. She holds a PhD in Cell and Molecular Genetics from the Van Andel Research Institute, a MS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati, and a BS in Bioinformatics, from Michigan Technological University. Prior to her current role, she served as a Senior Postdoctoral Associate at Lurie Children's Hospital, A T32 Postdoctoral Scholar In Applied Genomics and Precision Medicine at Duke University, a Research Associate at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on integrative and translational approaches to repurpose therapeutics for use in rare congenital disorders. Her laboratory uses zebrafish as a genetic model organism to generate and test bioinformatics-driven hypotheses.

Liam Hendrikse is a recent Ph.D. graduate from the Department of Medical Biophysics at the University of Toronto, now working as a Bioinformatician at the University Health Network. His research focuses on deepening our understanding of various cancer types using computational methods, in order to develop novel treatment options. Liam has a particular strength in analysis of various single-cell sequencing technologies (RNA, ATAC, CITE, TCR/BCR, etc.), as well as traditional sequencing technologies, such as bulk RNAseq. Liam has a proven track record of deriving highly impactful biological insights through his research, as evidenced by publications in high impact journals such as Nature and Cancer Discovery. Previously, Liam earned his Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and immunology from Western University in 2018.

Forward-thinking molecular biologist with 9 years of experience in designing, managing, and performing research projects in academic and government laboratory settings. Skilled published author and science communicator in oral and written settings with proven record of presentations and publications. Industry experience with onsite client-facing role focused on providing customer support, guidance, and monitoring for automated molecular diagnostic. Unique combination of detail-oriented mindset, driven personality, analytical skills, and proven ability to meet tight deadlines committed in a fast-paced work environment.

Experienced Biochemist and Biophysicist with 13+ years in protein and nucleic acid research, specializing in genomics assay development, multi-omics, biomolecule analytics, microbiology, and cellular imaging. Multi-disciplinary Scientist with outstanding academic training and 4 years of industrial research experience, adept at studying biomolecular interactions and gene expression to understand protein function and cellular physiology.

Algorithms & Information Intelligence, Pattern Discovery Bioinformatics & Computational Biology/Genomics Scalable Data Mining & Machine Learning

I'm an experienced bioinformatician with experience in analysing OMIC data (Meta-Genomics, RNASeq and Genomics).