Meet the Training Team
Who are we?
The training team includes members of both Genomics Aotearoa and NeSI (New Zealand eScience Infrastructure), as well as Postdoctoral Fellows and early career researchers who volunteer their time.
All workshops are led by an Instructor: subject matter experts who deliver high-level knowledge of the topic, demonstrating code in real-time.
All workshops are supported by Helpers: knowledgeable people who answer one-off questions or help you to solve issues as they arise.
All workshops have one or more Instructors or Helpers who have received formal training from The Carpentries or an equivalent.
Get to know the team
Professor Dr Michael Black (Mik Black, GA)
Co-director of Genomics Aotearoa and Chair of the Bioinformatics Leadership Team, Mik is deeply involved in both research and the development of bioinformatics capability and infrastructure in New Zealand. Based out of the University of Otago’s Department of Biochemistry, Mik’s research focus leans towards cancer and human health.
Bioinformatics Training Coordinator: Dr Tyler McInnes, GA
Tyler completed a PhD in the Centre for Translational Cancer Research at the University of Otago, utilising a bioinformatics skill set to analyse DNA methylation patterns in colorectal cancer. Following a passion for education, Tyler joined the Genetics Teaching Programme as a Teaching Fellow, working closely with Māori and Pacific students while developing and delivering a portfolio of material to assist student learning and improve outcomes. As a Training Coordinator for Genomics Aotearoa, Tyler coordinates a team of trainers, working with members of the community to deliver training material.
Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn if you have an interest in any form of training.
Bioinformatics Training Coordinator: Dr Jian Sheng Boey, GA
Boey completed a PhD in Environmental Microbiology at the University of Auckland. Boey now works as a Postdoctoral Fellow and a Training Coordinator, and has bioinformatics skill set that is both broad and deep. Boey has a personal aim of taking complicated, complex data and making it accessible. As a Training Coordinator Boey maintains the Genomics Aotearoa Github repositories and is responsible for the Metagenomics Summer School, an in-person, four-day intensive held annually at the University of Auckland.
Connect with Boey on LinkedIn
Dinindu Senanayake, NeSI
Genomics Support Specialist at NeSI, Dini is a ‘fixer’ - widely known and highly regarded in the New Zealand data science community, Dini has used his skills to solve a broad range of challenges. A command line expert with an eye for detail, Dini is involved in both writing and instructing many workshops.
Matt Bixley, NeSI
Research Support Specialist Matt Bixley is an R expert, passionate trainer and self-professed data science nerd. With a background in quantitative genetics, Matt’s skills have been employed with research in primary production (AgResearch New Zealand) and human health (Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago).
Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
