Julie Chih-yu Chen, PhD

Research summary

The Omics Data Sciences - Chen lab at the University of Manitoba has been taking bioinformatics approaches to investigate biomedical and public health challenges, utilizing microbial and mammalian omics data. Our research endeavors encompass a multifaceted approach, involving:

1. Leveraging and analyzing omics data to gain valuable insights into disease-related biological mechanisms
2. Addressing fundamental biological questions and hypotheses using statistical and machine learning methodologies
3. Identifying and mitigating potential biases while facilitating data interpretations, drawing upon our expertise in molecular biology and data science.

By integrating bioinformatics, statistics, machine learning, and molecular biology, our laboratory strives to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge. Our work aims to enhance diagnostics, develop improved therapeutic interventions, and deepen our understanding of the intricate mechanisms within the biological world.

Brief bio

Dr. Chen holds the primary position of head of data sciences in the bioinformatics section at the National Microbiology Laboratory Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada. In this role, she spearheads the continuous advancement of biological/omics data science and applies statistical and machine learning approaches to microbial omics datasets, aiming to address biological and public health challenges. Additionally, Dr. Chen joined the University of Manitoba as an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics in October 2021.

The interdisciplinary nature of her career has been shaped by her diverse training in molecular biology and bioinformatics, as well as her collaborations with researchers in the biological field. Through her research endeavors, Dr. Chen remains dedicated to advancing our understanding of complex biological phenomena and employing data-driven approaches to tackle critical challenges in public health.

Her recent focus has centered on machine learning applications for predicting source location, disease status, and antimicrobial resistance, utilizing data science techniques and microbial omics data. Dr. Chen's work showcases her commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies and innovative methodologies to make significant contributions in the field of bioinformatics and public health.

Education

• PhD in Bioinformatics, University of British Columbia (2016) 
• MSc in Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto (2011)
• MSc in Information Systems and Applications, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan (2005)
• BSc in Mathematics, University of British Columbia (2002)

Awards

• 2019 Critical Assessment of Massive Data Analysis (CAMDA) trophy award, Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology, European Conference on Computational Biology (ISMB/ECCB), Switzerland (2019)