Umar Ahmad Email & Phone Number

Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Ng

United States

Community Advisory Board (CAB) Members to promote the statistical and high-throughput analyses of biological assays.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

As the Senior Technical Officer for Pathogen Genomics, I provide technical expertise and guidance to implement the Saving Lives and Livelihoods pathogen genomics activity. This role is crucial for timely outbreak responses and improving the surveillance of COVID-19 and other significant pathogens. My primary duties and responsibilities include:1) Technical Oversight: Ensure the effective implementation of the pathogen genomics programme, aligning all activities with program objectives.2) Support to National Public Health Institutes (NPHIs): Assist NPHIs with sampling methods, data collection, analyses, interpretation, and reporting to enhance their capacity in pathogen genomics.3) Technical Assistance for Surveillance: Strengthen the use of pathogen genomics in routine infectious disease surveillance for NPHIs and other institutions.4) Dashboard Maintenance: Maintain a dashboard to monitor technical assistance and the implementation of pathogen genomics across different countries.5) Adoption and Implementation of Priority Use-Cases: Support the adoption and integration of priority use-cases into public health strategies at country and regional levels (West and Central Africa).6) Technical Working Groups: Facilitate the creation and operation of technical working groups, develop Terms of Reference (ToRs), and support these groups in meeting their goals.7) Laboratory Network Coordination: Establish and support the functioning of the laboratory network, coordinate referrals, and ensure robust quality assurance systems.8) Development of Quality Standards: Coordinate the development and implementation of minimum quality standards for genomics laboratories and their certification to ensure high-quality data generation for public health use.9) Reporting and Publications: Draft periodic reports and publications to disseminate information about the programme’s progress and findings.

Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria

As the pioneer Director of the Directorate of Linkages and International Partnerships, I am responsible for spearheading the university's global engagement strategy. My role focuses on establishing and nurturing strategic partnerships with international academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners to foster collaboration in research, student and faculty exchange, and capacity building.Key responsibilities include:Developing and managing partnerships with global universities, research institutes, and funding agencies.Promoting the university’s research output through international collaborations, joint publications, and conferences.Facilitating international student and faculty exchange programs to enhance global exposure.Sourcing international grants and funding opportunities to support research and innovation initiatives.Organizing international conferences and workshops to strengthen the university’s global presence.Driving institutional policy development for internationalization and global collaboration.Through this role, I aim to expand Sa'adu Zungur University’s global footprint, increase opportunities for academic and research collaboration, and enhance the overall international experience for students and faculty.

Review and revise the BSc Anatomy curriculum to go inline with the BMAS and global standards

Gadau

As the Head of the Department (HOD) of Human Anatomy at Bauchi State University, I oversee the academic, administrative, and research functions of the department. My primary duties and responsibilities include:- Academic Leadership: Guide faculty to ensure high-quality education in Anatomy through curriculum development, implementation, and continuous improvement.- Faculty Management: Recruit, develop, and evaluate faculty, fostering a collaborative work environment.- Research Promotion: Encourage research activities, secure funding, and facilitate collaborations.- Student Support: Provide academic support and mentorship, addressing student concerns and promoting a positive learning environment.- Administrative Oversight: Manage budgets, resources, class scheduling, and facilities maintenance.- Policy Development: Develop and implement departmental policies aligning with university goals.- Quality Assurance: Ensure compliance with accreditation standards and maintain quality in teaching, research, and service.- Interdepartmental Collaboration: Promote interdisciplinary teaching and research opportunities.- Community Engagement: Represent the department to enhance visibility and reputation, and build partnerships.- Strategic Planning: Lead strategic initiatives to align with the university’s mission and vision.- Conflict Resolution: Resolve conflicts to maintain a harmonious environment.- Other Duties: Perform additional duties as assigned by the university administration to ensure department success and growth.

Organise seminar and scientific gathering for both staff and students of the department of anatomy

San Francisco, California, United States

Providing academic Editorial Services

Teaching genetics and bioinformatics for BSc undergraduate Anatomy students

Bauchi, Nigeria

Works on analysing sequencing data generated from an experiment and training scientists how to analyse their large-scale genomics datasets.

Nairobi, Kenya

My role involves facilitating manuscript submission moderation and quality assurance as well as representing AfricArXiv at international meetings, events and webinars. We provide a non-profit platform to upload working papers, preprints, accepted manuscripts (post-prints), presentations, and data sets via our partner platforms. AfricArxiv is dedicated to foster research and collaboration among African scientists, enhance the visibility of African research output and to increase collaboration globally.

Nigeria

• Serving as a mentor and instructor in bioinformatics, specializing in the instruction of R programming, Linux-based high-performance computing, Git and GitHub usage, as well as the core principles of data science.• Tasked with the creation and enhancement of curriculum material, emphasizing the bioinformatics domain.• Accountable for designing and overseeing student projects, providing guidance and supervision throughout their implementation.

United Kingdom

This is a 16-week long personal mentorship and cohort-based training, where participants (organisers, hosts, mentors and project leads/mentees) of this program will:1) Share their expertise and gain knowledge essential to create, lead, and sustain an Open Science project2) Connect with members across different projects, communities, backgrounds, and identities3) Empower each other to become effective Open Science ambassadors in their communities

United States

Learnt about preprints in the contexts of science and openness in science. Facilitating overview of the landscape of preprints in the life sciences, context, trends, preprint servers- Provide an overview of preprint review and commentary initiatives- Handling conversations about preprints, principles and practice sessions- Participating in Community engagement options and giving tips for driving engagement initiatives- Communicate findings and contributing to developing training resources, writing policy briefs, reports, blog posts, and academic articles including running of online events,- Work on infographic projects in collaboration with other Fellows

Selangor, Malaysia

Being trained in a molecular and cancer biology laboratory during my PhD has established my solid understanding and skills in experimental cancer biology. Here, I worked on a project that sought out to decipher the genetic components that regulate the molecular networks underlying the development of NDV persistence infection in bladder cancer cells.

Universiti Putra Malaysia

During this period, I worked on a research that includes the following focus area:- (1) Development and characterisation of persistent bladder cancer cells treated with an oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), (2) Identifying the role of long non-coding RNAs during persistence infection in bladder cancer cells, (3) characterisation of novel transcripts and microRNAs involved in bladder cancer pathogenesis (4) transcriptomic analysis of persistently infected bladder cancer cells, and (5) molecular screening of nucleic acid aberrations and dysregulated genes associated with NDV persistence infection in bladder cancer cells. A number of mRNAs or novel RNAs were discovered being produced in specific type of bladder cancer that was used in developing the NDV persistence infection. Our group are interested in deciphering the role of these differentially regulated transcripts (DEGs) in development of NDV persistence infection in bladder cancer cells. In the course of this project, I have (in person):• Sequenced the persistently infected bladder cancer cell lines by whole transcriptome (RNA-Seq) using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics pipelines.• Assembled and analysed the transcriptome profile of the persistently infected bladder cancer cell lines using Unix/Linux command lines in HPC environment.• Wrote five (5) first author publications, several second author publications, and one doctoral dissertation that added more insightful information to the existing body of knowledge in cancer genomics and transcriptional misregulation of particularly human bladder cancer.• Developed a standard protocol for the propagation and purification of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) for oncoltyic virotherapy application that is currently being used in most of the local laboratories working with NDV in Malaysia.• Presented my research findings orally (an in oral highlights) in 4 international conferences across 2 countries.

Darazo, Nigeria.

Consultancy Role: As a consultant to TSHIP/JSI, I assessed the activities of the 100 Women Group (100WG) in Darazo LGA of Bauchi State, Nigeria. I supervised a team of data collectors/interviewers to capture data across all wards of the LGA. I actively participated in data collection and successfully presented my reports to the activity manager.

Faculty Of Medicine & Health Sciences

I worked on a project that sought to evaluate the oncolytic effect of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on breast cancer specifically targeting the mechanism on how NDV AF2240 strain induced its oncolytic effects on : i) Growth Inhibition of veins, ii) Migration of endothelial cells and iii) Cellular microvessel formation, and iv) apoptosis induction.

Faculty Of Medicine And Health Sciences

Teaches Anatomy (Gross anatomy, Histology, Radiologic, Neuroanatomy, and Embryology) to PreMedic Mesir

Bauchi State, Nigeria.

As a Project Coordinator (PC) for the USAID-funded "Targeted States High Impact Project" (TSHIP), I played a crucial role in increasing access to and utilization of Maternal and Neonatal Child Health, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health (MNCH/FP/RH) services. My primary duties and responsibilities included:1) Project Strategy and Implementation: Guided the overall project strategy using the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) table, set up the project’s implementation system, and ensured alignment with project goals.2) Planning and Reporting: Developed detailed plans and prepared comprehensive reports summarizing project progress and outcomes for submission to the TSHIP grant manager.3) Awareness and Education: Increased awareness and access to sexual and reproductive health services by training peer educators and volunteers, engaging with youth in youth-friendly centers and communities across three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Bauchi State, Nigeria (Alkaleri, Kirfi, and Itas/Gadau).4) Advocacy and Community Mobilization: Led advocacy efforts, utilizing religious and community leaders and culturally sensitive IEC/BCC materials to create awareness and disseminate information to stakeholders.5) Capacity Building: Built the capacity of community members and stakeholders through training and workshops to support and sustain project activities.6) Stakeholder Engagement: Organized forums to disseminate project information and results to stakeholders, ensuring their engagement and support for the project’s objectives.7) Supervision and Coordination: Supervised and coordinated project activities to ensure effective implementation and monitoring of all project components. Oversaw the work of peer educators, volunteers, and project staff.8) Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitored and evaluated project activities to ensure they met objectives and were implemented effectively. Analyzed data, identified gaps, and made recommendations for improvements.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Genetics | Genomics | Bioinformatics (Uro-Oncology)

Activities and Societies: Graduate Student Club Journal Club BASUG AcademiaI worked on a project that sought to evaluate the molecular.

Master Of Public Health - Mph, Genomics Epidemiology

Master Of Science (M.S), Anatomy | Cancer Biology, Distinction

Activities and Societies: BASUG Academia Journal ClubWe investigated the cytotoxic and anti-angiogenic activity of oncolytic Newcastle.

Bachelor Of Science (B.Sc.), Anatomy | Cell Biology

Activities and Societies: NUBASS (SEC. GEN), BAMSA (Liberian & Asst Sec.), ABUMSA, ISMA( Member)Anatomy & Cell Biology

Certificate, Bioinformatics | Genome Informatics

I have gained an extensive experience in handling large scale genomic data and as such, I primarily uses Unix and R/Bioconductor.