Compressive genomics: leveraging the geometry of biological data 

Abstract:

Researchers around the globe are gathering biomedical information at a massive scale. We develop algorithms to compress this data that enable computation on the reduced representation. In this talk, I will discuss how we can leverage the low-dimensional true structure of biological data manifolds in order to build useable compact geometric summaries of this data. I will highlight our latest work on single-cell transcriptomic datasets, that enables an unprecedented scale of data to be effectively pooled from individuals and institutions across nations to enable novel life-saving discoveries.

Citation:

Bonnie Berger has an outstanding record of research contributions in the area of computational biology which have furthered our understanding of the structure of proteins and the genome. Berger work is characterized by its successful interdisciplinarity and mathematical depth. In addition to theoretical and algorithmic contributions, she has contributed  significantly to the  rapid advancement of the fields of systems biology and genomics by her numerous software developments, which are widely used by researchers in other disciplines. Her work has received, and continues to receive, numerous accolades and national and international awards. In addition to being a highly accomplished research leader in bioinformatics and computational biology, Berger has an enviable record of mentorship of young investigators and service to the profession. Her intellectual impact is multifaceted and far-reaching.