Michael Ayars Email & Phone Number

Greater Salt Lake City Area

-Using Python text-processing tools (NLTK, whoosh, spaCy), generated an evidence base linking hundreds of infectious microorganisms to specific human diseases by extracting and parsing the language in 29M Pubmed abstracts.-Curated repositories of nucleic acid sequences from public databases (SRA, ARGOS, Silva) by phylogenetic clustering and identifying patterns of submission discrepancies.-Developed and scored detection thresholds for a metagenomics diagnostic platform using simulated sequencing data (Jellyfish, Bamtools, BWA) and binary classification models (scikit-learn).

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Pancreatic cancer owes much of its lethality to the inability of clinicians to detect it at treatable stages. My thesis project focused on the RNA-sequencing of pancreatic cancer precursor lesions for biomarkers that could be usable in clinical screening and targets for therapy. I developed a workflow for the isolation of pure RNA from patient-derived, pancreatic lesions using laser microdissection for RNA-sequencing. I analyzed the resulting expression data using Python and R Bioconductor tools to identify novel targets of interest that were either differentially expressed, alternatively spliced, or the product of gene fusion events. Finally, I performed CRISPR-mediated deletion and mouse xenograft studies of one of these targets, successfully demonstrating its functional role in pancreatic cancer tumor growth.

"Shark Tank" styled pitching to investors in the Bootcamp for Biomedical Entrepreneurs program, technical and strategic contributions to early business plan, communication and partnership with manufacturing entities.

Doctor Of Philosophy (Phd), Pathobiology

Master'S Degree, Molecular Microbiology And Immunology

Bachelor'S Degree, Biotechnology And Bioinformatics