Dr Jacob Almagro-Garcia

Translational Research Lead

My work primarily involves translating scientific knowledge and developing new statistical and machine learning methods into practical genomic surveillance applications specifically designed for malaria parasites.

Overview

My role focuses on researching, developing, and adapting novel statistical and machine learning methods, analysis tools, and genomic surveillance applications. Specifically, I work on malaria parasites but my aim is also to make novel methods useful for other organisms and diseases in the future.

I have a keen interest in the following areas:

• Evolution of drug resistance.
• Genetic epidemiology of malaria.
• Detection and prediction of resistance outbreaks on the field.
• Genealogical inference and tracking of drug-resistant lineages over time and across locations.
• Deconvolution (phasing) of malaria mixed infections.
• Development of machine learning methods for genomic surveillance.

My ultimate objective is to contribute to the generation of scientific and data-driven insights that can benefit public health and malaria control programs.

Education

Before working in genomics, I trained as a computer scientist. I hold degrees in computer science, an MSc in software engineering, and also an MSc in cloud computing and computational methods. After that, I started working in malaria, and quickly transitioned into bioinformatics, population genetics, and finally, statistical genomics. I completed my PhD in statistical genomics at University of Oxford, under the supervision and mentoring of Dominic Kwiatkowski and Gil McVean, where I studied how global and local patterns of population structure shaped the evolution and demography of Plasmodium falciparum.

• 2013-2017 Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil).
  Statistical Genomics.
  University of Oxford (UK)
• 2007-2008 Master of Science (MSc).
  Cloud Computing and Computational Techniques.
  Cranfield University (UK).
  
• 2005-2008 Master of Science (MSc).
  Software Engineering.
  Universidad de Sevilla (Spain).
  
• 2002-2005 Bachelor of Science (BSc).
  Computer Science.
  Universidad de Cádiz (Spain).

My timeline

• Translational Research Lead - Wellcome Sanger Institute, Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU)

• Principal Data Scientist - Wellcome Sanger Institute, Genomic Surveillance Unit (GSU)

• Data Scientist - Big Data Institute, University of Oxford

• Research Associate - Big Data Institute, University of Oxford

• Research Associate - Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford

• Bioinformatician - Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford

• Scientific Software Engineer - Wellcome Sanger Institute