INFECTIOUS DISEASES
APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship Builds
Lab Capacity, Launches Careers
By Christin Hanigan, PhD, senior specialist, Advanced Molecular Detection
As state public health laboratories
(PHLs) have implemented next
generation sequencing (NGS), one of
the biggest challenges remains building
bioinformatics expertise. Finding and
attracting bioinformaticians to PHLs
has not been easy. The APHL-CDC
Bioinformatics Fellowship has become
a great way for young bioinformaticians
to learn how to apply their skill set to
infectious diseases in PHLs.
Each fellow has come with different
education and experience. In two cases,
the fellowship provided the fellow’s first
introduction to PHL careers. As a group,
the fellows remain deeply committed to
public health, and engaged in applying
complex bioinformatics analytics to solve
public health problems. They continue
to make an impact beyond their labs,
serving as Advanced Molecular Detection
Bioinformatics resources for their regions.
Collectively they provide technical
assistance, analysis and training to PHLs
around the country.
Applications for the 2019-2020
APHL-CDC Bioinformatics fellow class
for both fellows and host laboratories
are open until February 28, 2019.
@APHL
Logan Fink, MS
Comparative and Molecular Bioscience,
University of Minnesota, 2016 Biological and Medical Informatics,
San Diego State University, 2017
Fellowship: Minnesota
Department of Health Public
Health Laboratory
Current Position:
Supervisor, Sequencing and
Bioinformatics
Since its inception in 2013, 29 APHL-CDC
Bioinformatics Fellows have completed
their placements. In 2016, the first
fellow was placed in a state PHL. Five
additional fellows have followed at state
PHL placements. Three are currently
completing their fellowships, and three
alumni have remained at their host
laboratory as staff members. Their
accomplishments have been instrumental
in building bioinformatics infrastructure
and increasing capacity for in-house
analysis.
PublicHealthLabs
Xiong (Sean) Wang, PhD
APHL.org
The first bioinformatics
fellow to be placed at a state PHL, Sean built
Minnesota’s bioinformatics infrastructure and
increased its analytical capacity. He came to the
fellowship with the goal of learning more about
PHLs and infectious diseases, and took advantage
of professional development opportunities to
expand his knowledge.
Kevin Libuit, MS
Fellowship: Colorado
Department of Public
Health and the Environment
Laboratory Services Division
Current Position:
Bioinformatician
Logan is passionate about
developing the bioinformatics infrastructure in
Colorado and helping other PHLs increase their
bioinformatics analysis capacity. He came to
the fellowship with an interest in employing his
bioinformatics skills to curb infectious disease
worldwide and has benefited from networking
with national and international public health
bioinformaticians who have been instrumental in
shaping his commitment to public health. n
Biology, James Madison University, 2017
Fellowship: Virginia Division
of Consolidated Laboratory
Services (DCLS)
Current Position: Senior
Informatics Scientist
Under the mentorship of
Dr. Lauren Turner, Kevin
was instrumental in building the bioinformatics
infrastructure from the ground up at DCLS and
establishing the laboratory as a nationally-
recognized regional resource for bioinformatics.
Kevin completed his master’s degree at James
Madison University and began working at DCLS
under the Governor’s Data Internship Program, a
part of Governor McAuliffe’s initiative to integrate
data sciences into government work around the
Commonwealth. DCLS was chosen to host an
intern to help develop bioinformatics capabilities
for foodborne pathogen surveillance.
The reason I stayed is that
the work is both satisfying and
gratifying. I feel like I’m getting
to use my knowledge and my
position to make an impactful and
meaningful difference in people’s
lives by preventing illness and
fighting the spread of disease
through modern surveillance and
computational techniques.”
Logan Fink
Fall 2018 LAB MATTERS
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