OLAYINKA ADEBAJO

I have a strong background in computer science and bioinformatics, a passion for data analysis, and a deep interest in the intersection of biology and computer science.

I am a graduate of Computer Science (ND, HND from the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos, Nigeria) and (BS, MS from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria). My MS research was in Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge Representation, Reasoning and Language Theory, but I have since switched to Computational Biology, Genomics and Bioinformatics. Notwithstanding, I fit perfectly into both research specialisations. I graduated with an MPhil/PhD grade in my Masters', but I have since complemented my grade with huge research experience, as highlighted in my curriculum vitae. My knowledge includes advanced algorithms, excellent use of bioinformatics pipelines, statistical modelling, and machine learning, all of which I apply to biological data analysis.

I currently work with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, statisticians, mathematicians, microbiologists, computer scientists, and public health professionals at the No. 1 Stroke Research Organisation in Africa, Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN), located at the Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine (CGPM), College of Medicine, University College Hospital, the University of Ibadan, affiliated with the National Institute of Health (NIH) and The H3Africa Consortium. I occupy the roles of a Bioinformatics Analyst and Information Technology Manager. The organisation is led by Prof. Mayowa Owolabi (Principal Investigator) and Prof. Rufus Akinyemi (Co-Principal Investigator), who are two of Nigeria’s top 10 scientists. On the job, I use high-performance computing to store, retrieve, back up and analyse big data, neuroimaging quality control, and biorepository activities. I make good use of R and Python for data science and analysis.

As a demonstration of my excellent written and oral communication skills, I am a member of the GWAS Analysis and CANVAS Copy Number Variation (CNV) Calling Project Research Group, a study-wide team of researchers from Lund (Sweden), Alabama (USA), Maryland (USA), Gothenburg (Sweden), Berlin (Germany), Ibadan (Nigeria), etc. I have contributed immensely to publishing original research in peer-reviewed journals, and I may be able to share my experience with you orally at your request, as conveyed in my curriculum vitae attached. I recently underwent a one-month Copy Number Variation training at the Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany, with PD Dr. rer. nat. Caspar Grond-Ginsbach, PhD, a Human Geneticist with the German Society of Human Genetics. I presented an abstract at the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC) Workshop in Munich, Germany, in April 2024.

I have experience with the analysis of next-generation sequencing data and the use of bioinformatics pipelines. One such experience of an introduction to the use of the NGS is the advanced bioinformatics workshop on DNA methylation profiling in plants in 2024 which I participated in. The workshop was organized by the EpiCass & CassavaNet4Dev consortium and jointly hosted by the Swedish University of Agriculture Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricirche, Institute of Sustainable Plant Protection, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Bari, Italy, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, Bio & Emerging Technology Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya. I bring a strong network that will aid collaboration among diverse researchers, across continents.

Since my master's program, I have worked as a teaching assistant with Dr Angela Uche Makolo, the Principal Investigator of the University of Ibadan Bioinformatics Group and a Staff Member at H3Africa (H3AbioNet). As a Bioinformatics Analyst and Information Technology Manager, I have gained hands-on experience with next-generation sequencing (NGS) data, repeat expansion analysis, copy number variation and risk outcome analysis, RNA-seq analysis, and the development of custom bioinformatics pipelines.

I have demonstrated experience and training in population genetics studies and molecular research. Some of these include The Tailored Hospital-based Risk Reduction to Impede Vascular Events after Stroke (THRIVES) Study, African Rigorous Innovative Stroke Epidemiological Study (ARISES), The Systematic Investigation of Blacks with Stroke: Phenomics (SIBS-Phenomics) and The Systematic Investigation of Blacks with Stroke Genomics (SIBS-Genomics), which have resulted in Manuscript Publications and Poster Presentations at various workshops and conferences. This experience solidifies my understanding of the challenges and opportunities in bioinformatics and reinforces my desire to pursue a research career in this field.