Matthew W. Mitchell, PhD

Assistant Professor
Program Manager

As Co-PI of the NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository and the NHGRI Sample Repository I bring both a broad and unique skill-set as an independent genomics researcher, an experienced team leader and project manager, and a scientist who is well-versed in communicating his research to the public. My responsibilities as Co-PI include coordinating with investigators and project managers to facilitate the daily operations of the repositories, adopting new process efficiency measures, recruiting new samples, improving the genomic and bioinformatics capabilities of the repositories, and interfacing with governmental project officers and scientific advisory committee members. 

Over the course of my career I developed robust and successful genomics research projects. Beginning with my time in a stem cell research lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and continuing through to my more recent work microbial genomics and evolution, I have honed my organizational skills understanding cutting edge biological research, managing successful and productive research programs, and overseeing large repositories of biological specimens. Most recently, I was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Biology Department at the University of Pennsylvania where I studied the ecology and evolution of diseases using bacterial population genomic tools. I developed and implemented new bioinformatics and machine learning techniques to improve methodologies to selectively target microbial genomes for sequencing from complex natural samples

My previous postdoctoral and graduate research focused on using population genomics and metagenomics to understand the evolution of wild chimpanzees and their microbiome in Central Africa. At Drexel University I was personally responsible for managing a non-human primate sample database of hundreds of specimens that has continuously grown over the past 20 years. Throughout my management, I moved this database between universities, imported samples across continents, and distributed samples to collaborators for DNA and RNA sequencing services. As science has progressed, I have adapted my research with it and continue to develop my experience with bioinformatics tools by keeping up to date in the field’s recent advances. In the age of big data, I draw on these same organizational skills to develop effective storage and management systems for genome-scale data, while also keeping it accessible to my coworkers and collaborators.

Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

PhD - State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY

BA - Colby College, Waterville, ME

Publications

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