Pleased to meet you
I have a background in experimental (neuro)-biology but I am now a Data Scientist and bioinformatician with more than a decade of experience in the analysis and integration of multiple types of data, mostly -omics. I get a kick out of data visualization and creating plots to communicate results.
Even though it has been a while since I last donned a lab coat, My previous experience at the bench has proven useful when communicating with collaborators, be it wet lab scientist or management. I very much see my job as translating research and business goals into testable hypothesis, and ultimately interesting and novel findings. I sometimes work at the interface of machines, biology and humans as a software product owner and lead dev. I even help with experimental design (as it should be).
My academic research focus was RNA biology and regulation of gene expression - it has been a long time ago but I am still fascinated by questions in those fields. Above all I have a curious mind for all sorts of data and crave challenges.
How I came to data science
I used to do a lot of pipetting. Like 96-well plate PCR ‘a lot’. Early during my postdoc, I decided that I wanted to have more control over analysis of the data I generated by high-throughput experiments. Mistakes happen and will always happen, but I would rather be able to detect and fix them myself, and that is much easier with code than with a test tube. Specially the detection of errors is much easier by reading code and checking the logs of tools. So I started my journey to data science learning how to code and suddenly the time spent on the computer analyzing data became longer and, despite all the frustrations compiling libraries, more enjoyable.
The pipette lost. Long live the keyboard.
Why this site?
This blog is a collection of tips, hints, and ramblings that detail my journey from qPCR and cell culture to R scripting, bedtools and a dash of ML. A journey to the dark side from the perspective of a bench biologist. It is intended primarily as personal notes for future reference.
Far from the computer
Food
When I am not computing, I like eating, cooking and sharing recipes so I created a food blog: Food For the People. Most of them are paleo and low-carb inspired, but there is also a lot of traditional Portuguese cooking. Have a look and enjoy.
Football (soccer)
I have been playing with friends and colleagues in Dresden for many many years now and the best I can say of about sills is that I am equally good with both feet and they are equally terrible. But I do enjoy these games and it a good escape from the desk. I support Benfica but love watching good games regardless of whom is playing.