About Hamza Mbareche

Background

Hamza Mbareche, PhD, is an innovative research scientist with extensive experience in infectious disease transmission, gut microbiome related illnesses, and public health using molecular and computational biology methods. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed publications and presented at 40+ conferences, including several as an invited speaker. He is a seasoned science communicator with a proven track record of interpreting complex medical data and communicating scientific information accurately to health care professionals (HCPs) and key opinion leaders (KOLs).

Dr. Mbareche has over 8 years of experience developing and implementing bioinformatics tools to analyze multi-omic datasets. He is highly proficient in Python and R and has experience with the analysis of next-generation sequencing data, Bioconductor packages, workflow management systems (e.g., Nextflow, Snakemake), high-performance computing, and Linux. Dr. Mbareche has developed bioinformatics solutions leading to 25+ cross-disciplinary collaborations in clinical research in the public and private sector.

Dr. Mbareche has spearheaded the management of $5.5 Million CAD in funding grants, a patent in progress for Crohn’s Disease treatment, and the construction of bioinformatics infrastructure in three clinical laboratories. He has collaborated with Public Health Ontario, McMaster University researchers, and Ontario Genomics to meet urgent medical needs during the COVID-19 pandemic response to track SARS-CoV-2 strains.

Dr. Mbareche has held several positions in research and academia, including a postdoctoral fellow at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he contributed to the development of a research project aimed at understanding the gut microbiome in Inflammatory Bowel Disease. He also led a collaboration with engineers and researchers from the National Research Council Canada to develop a project aimed at understanding the transmission of respiratory viruses in indoor air. He has conducted the bioinformatics analysis, data visualization, critical interpretation, and synthesized and communicated research results to physicians and other health care professionals during weekly meetings and scientific symposia.

Dr. Mbareche holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Bioinformatics from Université Laval, Québec, Canada, an MS in Microbiology and Bioinformatics from Université Laval, Québec, Canada, and a BSc in Microbiology from Université Laval, Québec, Canada. He has also worked as a teaching assistant at Université Laval, where he assisted in the delivery of lectures and laboratory classes for undergraduate and graduate students, conducted literature reviews and analyzed data to support research projects in microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry, and provided one-on-one support and guidance to students to enhance their academic performance.

Dr. Mbareche’s soft and technical skills include creative problem-solving, adaptability, R/Bioconductor and Python packages, and scientific writing and communication. He has strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills with expertise in developing and implementing new solutions, as evidenced by improving 30+ molecular biology and bioinformatics methods, including three with a direct impact on medical practice.

Motivation

Transitioning from academia to industry is inspired by a variety of factors, and it’s important to identify what specifically motivated me to make this shift. The main reasons for transitioning include:

  1. Desire for practical impact: Many academics feel frustrated that their research doesn’t have a direct impact on the world around them. Moving to industry can provide an opportunity to work on projects that have tangible, real-world applications.
  2. Career growth opportunities: Industry positions often offer more opportunities for career advancement, higher salaries, and greater job security than academia.
  3. Access to resources: Industry roles can provide access to resources and technologies that may not be available in academia, such as state-of-the-art equipment, funding, and industry networks.
  4. Personal reasons: Desire for a better work-life balance, a need for a change in environment, and a desire to pursue new challenges.

As for why I’m passionate about bridging the gap between academia and industry, there are several reasons:

  1. Seeing the potential for greater impact: I believe that by bringing academia and industry closer together, there is potential for even greater impact than either could achieve alone.
  2. A desire for collaboration: I’m passionate about creating opportunities for academics and industry professionals to collaborate on projects, and believe that these collaborations could lead to breakthroughs that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
  3. Fostering innovation: By creating closer ties between academia and industry, it will lead to more innovation and technological advancements.
  4. Career development: You may see bridging the gap between academia and industry as an opportunity for personal and professional growth, as well as a chance to learn new skills and gain experience.

Overall, bridging the gap between academia and industry can benefit both sides and create new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and impact.