Simon Topp Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

Working on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Motor Neuron Disease), previously in the Basic & Clinical Neurosciences department, now in the Department of Biostatistics & Health. My role has primarily involved the management of our exome and genome sequencing data and the search for pathogenic variants within. More recently I have been working with RNAseq data and fine-mapping of GWAS candidates, and analysis of genomic Human Endogenous Retrovirus insertions.My current contract expires in 2026.

Temporary contracting position

Following severe redundancies at GSK I attempted to travel alone around the outer perimeter of mainland Europe/EU. I drove 18,000 miles which took 162 days, taking 40,000 photos en route, and passing through the most Western, Southern and Northen points (missing the Easternmost by only 200 miles)https://omnisppot.smugmug.com/Around-the-World/EdgeOfEurope

Nearly 14 years experience in computational biology supporting multiple therapeutic areas (primarily neuroscience research). Sufficient proficiency in perl to parse, process, analyse, display and integrate extremely large and complex data sets. In addition to hundreds of small and medium scale data manipulation scripts I have designed and written several genome/proteome scale analysis pipelines.I have given presentations of my work on well over two hundred separate occasions. Usually this was to small internal project teams of biologists and chemists, but on many occasions to larger audiences of 50-300 colleagues. I have often been praised on my presentation skills including the quality of the presentation material.

Computational Biology support to the Neuroscience therapeutic area

Msc, Bioinformatics

Research thesis was in 2 parts: 1) A phylogenetic re-analysis of the GAPDH gene refuted the findings of Doolittle et al, 1990.

Bsc, Molecular Biology