Derrence Harrison
derrenceharrison49@[Link]
Professional Summary
I am a dedicated computational biologist and data scientist currently pursuing a PhD in Computational
Biology at Stanford University, with research focused on bioinformatics, machine learning, and genomic
data analysis. I earned a Master of Science in Computational Biology from the University of Chicago in
2022, where I specialized in developing algorithms for biological data interpretation. My expertise
bridges computer science and biology, enabling me to design scalable tools and predictive models for
solving complex biological challenges, such as disease classification and protein modeling. I am
passionate about applying computational methods to advance research in genomics, personalized
medicine, and molecular biology.
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Computational Biology
Stanford University | Stanford, CA
Expected Graduation: May 2025
Research Focus: Machine learning algorithms for protein structure prediction and genetic variant
analysis.
Master of Science in Computational Biology
University of Chicago | Chicago, IL
Graduated: May 2022
Thesis: "Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Gene Regulatory Networks in Complex Organisms."
Bachelor of Science in Biology and Computer Science
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX
Graduated: May 2020
Focus: Genomics, software engineering, and data visualization.
Technical Skills
I am proficient in Python, R, MATLAB, and Java, with extensive experience using bioinformatics tools
such as BLAST, Bioconductor, and BioPython. My expertise includes advanced statistical analysis,
machine learning, and data visualization using tools like Pandas, Seaborn, and Tableau. I have worked
with TensorFlow and Scikit-learn for building predictive models and performed genomic and
transcriptomic data analyses using tools like STAR, DESeq2, and GATK.
Certifications
I have earned certifications in Advanced Bioinformatics from the University of California, San Diego
(2022), Genomic Data Science Specialization from Johns Hopkins University (2021), and Machine
Learning with TensorFlow from Google AI (2020).
Professional Experience
Graduate Research Assistant
Stanford University | Stanford, CA | September 2022 – Present
In this role, I focus on computational modeling of protein-ligand interactions to advance drug discovery
research. I have developed machine learning pipelines to predict protein structures, leveraging deep
learning frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow. My work has contributed to publications in high-
impact journals and improved understanding of disease-related protein variants. Additionally, I mentor
undergraduate students in computational biology techniques and guide them through research projects.
Bioinformatics Analyst Intern
Genentech | South San Francisco, CA | June 2022 – August 2022
I developed algorithms to analyze genomic datasets, focusing on identifying biomarkers linked to cancer
progression. My contributions included building data pipelines that processed large-scale sequencing
data with high efficiency. The insights generated from my analysis informed ongoing clinical research,
improving the detection of actionable mutations in cancer treatment.
Undergraduate Researcher
University of Texas at Austin | Austin, TX | September 2018 – May 2020
I worked on a project examining gene expression changes in response to environmental stressors in
plants. My responsibilities included analyzing RNA-seq datasets, performing differential expression
analysis using DESeq2, and visualizing results with ggplot2. This research provided valuable insights into
stress-tolerance mechanisms, which were published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Key Projects
In one of my most impactful projects, I designed a scalable machine learning pipeline to classify breast
cancer subtypes using genomic and clinical data, achieving an accuracy rate of 92%. Another notable
project involved developing a cloud-based tool for visualizing protein structures, making molecular
modeling accessible to researchers without computational expertise. I also collaborated on creating a
bioinformatics workflow for analyzing single-cell RNA-seq data, streamlining the identification of cell-
type-specific gene expression patterns.
Leadership and Volunteer Work
I serve as a mentor in Stanford’s Bioinformatics Society, where I guide students on using computational
tools for biological research. I also volunteer with the California STEM Initiative, hosting workshops to
inspire high school students to explore careers in computational biology. As part of my commitment to
open science, I contribute to open-source bioinformatics tools by developing and maintaining codebases
for community use.
Languages
I am fluent in English and have conversational proficiency in Spanish, which has been valuable in
collaborating with international research teams.
Interests
My academic interests include genomic data analysis, systems biology, and personalized medicine.
Outside of my research, I enjoy hiking, solving logic puzzles, and contributing to citizen science initiatives
focused on biodiversity.