Thomas Carroll

Head of Bioinformatics

Overview

• PhD to Head of team.
• Running a Core Team.
• Conclusions.

My path.

Genetics BSc

Bioinformatics MRes

Toxicogenomics PhD

Bioinformatician

Senior Bioinformatician

Head of Bioinformatics

MRes to PhD.

• Undergraduate and MRes in Genetics and Bioinformatics.
• Wanted to generate my own data.
  • Wet-lab PhD in toxicogenomics
• Worked closely with KCL Genomics Core.
• Worked on many projects (from many labs).

PhD to bioinformatics support

• Writing up in 4th year.
  • Sought job for final year.
• Bioinformatics post (Epigenetics MRC CSC - Matthias Merkenschlager)
• Great post and opportunities.
• Wanted to work as part of larger team.
• Senior Bioinformatics post (CRUK Cambridge - Rory Stark).
  • Greater responsibilities to team.
  • Software design and release.
• Training at Cambridge Genetics.

Path to head of core.

• Wanted to run my own core.
  • Designing
• Wanted management experience.
• Wanted to continue to work in interesting analysis projects.
• Opportunity at MRC Clinical Science Centre

My Role

Head of Bioinformatics

The objectives

• Institute bioinformatics analysis and infrastructure.
• Create framework for learning Bioinformatics skills.
• Assess future requirements.

Head of Bioinformatics:

Day to Day

• Analysis Support.
• Infrastructure.
• Training/ Seminars.
• Publications and software.

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Data analysis.

• Support bioinformatics analysis.
• Working with Biologists and Bioinformaticians.
  • Experimental Design.
  • QC and initial analysis.
  • Downstream support (WIPS/lab meetings)
  • Publication and rebuttals.

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Data analysis.

• Support part or all of project?
• Level of project which can be supported?
• How to get most of collaboration?

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Infrastructure.

• Provide and maintain infrastructure.
  • Analysis infrastructure.
  • Project management infrastructure.
  • Resources.

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Training.

• Create a culture of bioinformatics learning.
  • Create courses and reference material.
  • Find training opportunities outside of CSC
  • Start collaborative training network.

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Seminars.

• Meet the Geeks! - Bioinformatics Seminar Series.
• Arrange talks about methodology
  • Aim for relevant topics.
  • Discuss methods and issues.
  • Networking opportunity.

Head of Bioinformatics

Day to day: Publications and Sofware.

• Contribute to publications
  • 4 years ~ on 35 publications
• Release software
  • Infrastructure publically available
  • 2 Bioconductor packages released
  • Javascript tools.

Head of Bioinformatics

Good and bad

The Good

• Freedom to meet objectives creatively.
• Valuable experience.
• Highly varied work.

The Bad

• Work on many projects but few as lead author.
• Increased freedom, less direction.

Any advice.

• Take your time to plan your next move after PhD.
• Get involved in work outside of your own
• Attend societies and meetings to get networking early.

Thanks to!

• Matthias Merkenschlager.
• Rory Stark.

Bioinformatics Team

• Gopuraja Dharmalingam    
• Sanjay Khadayate