Description

✔️ Expertise in Microbiology, Genomics, and Bioinformatics

Specialized Fields: Genomics, Metabarcoding, Metagenomics, Metatranscriptomics, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes.

Microbial Community Analysis: Advanced profiling and characterization of complex microbial ecosystems across diverse environments.

Antibiotic Resistance Insights: Detection and comprehensive analysis of resistance genes, supporting public health initiatives and epidemiological research.

Genomic Data Interpretation: Skilled in handling and analyzing large-scale genomic datasets with precision.

Microbial Interactions: Expertise in studying microorganism-environment dynamics and the role of resistance genes in shaping microbial communities.

✔️ Achievements and Contributions

Scientific Publications: Author of over 30 research articles indexed in PubMed, contributing to advancements in microbiology and bioinformatics.

Peer Review: Official reviewer for prestigious international journals, ensuring the quality and rigor of scientific research.

Innovative Research Approach: Known for a forward-thinking mindset and the ability to devise creative solutions to complex biological challenges.

✔️ Technical Proficiency

Bioinformatics Workflows: Design and optimization of efficient pipelines for genomic and transcriptomic analyses.

Data Interpretation Tools: Advanced capabilities in extracting, processing, and interpreting sequencing data using state-of-the-art bioinformatics tools.

✔️ Key Applications and Impact

Delivering actionable insights to address multidrug-resistant infections and improve therapeutic strategies.

Providing tailored bioinformatics support for projects in healthcare, biotechnology, and environmental sciences.

🕑 Availability

Ready to collaborate on innovative research projects and deliver customized bioinformatics solutions.

Feel free to connect for inquiries or collaborations! 🙂

Industry field of expertise

Languages

English
Fluent
Arabic
Native or bilingual
French
Native or bilingual

Workplace preferences

Remote only

Primarily works remotely

IFREMER
• Postdoctoral Researcher at IFREMER, Nantes, France – Jan-2024_ Jun-2025: (EUDIV Project)
RESEARCH
January 2024 - Today (2 years and 5 months)
Nantes, France
• Study on the genetic diversity of norovirus (NoV) strains in urban wastewater and foodborne sources.
• Developed an innovative metabarcoding approach to detect and classify over 90 NoV genotypes using 146 primers, optimized for dual-typing of both capsid and polymerase regions.
• Conducted high-efficiency sequencing using the ONT MinIon platform, reducing chimera formation and improving virus detection in wastewater samples.
• Created an application for automatic typing and identification of NoV genotypes, enhancing rapid and reliable analysis.
• Contributed to the development of tools for improving public health surveillance and epidemic prevention through detailed NoV monitoring in environmental samples.
Metabarcoding Python (Programming Language) Sequencing
IHU
Project Manager and Genomic/Bioinformatics Analyst – IHU Marseille & AUL Collaboration
RESEARCH
March 2023 - December 2023 (9 months)
Marseille, France
I led the project Emerging Mycobacterium bovis in Lebanon: a snapshot based on whole-genome sequencing, a collaboration between IHU Méditerranée Infection (Marseille) and the American University of Lebanon.

Project Management: Coordinated teams, planned research milestones, and supervised scientific activities.
Bioinformatics Analysis: Conducted comprehensive genomic analysis of over 50 clinical Mycobacterium bovis strains, including genetic typing, antibiotic resistance gene identification, and phylogenetic tree construction.
Environmental Studies: Investigated the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in environmental samples from closed slaughterhouses to detect pathogens in non-clinical contexts.

This project advanced the understanding of Mycobacterium bovis epidemiology in Lebanon and contributed to public health through cutting-edge genomic research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Article :
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.01.18.576209v1
IHU
Project Manager – CRISPR-Based Detection and Typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex
RESEARCH
January 2022 - December 2022 (11 months)
Marseille, France
I led the project CRISPR-Based Detection, Identification, and Typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Lineages, focusing on developing a novel CRISPR-based system for detecting and typing Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical and environmental samples.

Project Management: Supervised the project’s workflow, coordinated cross-disciplinary teams, and ensured timely progress.
CRISPR System Development: Designed a diagnostic assay using the CRISPR-csm4 gene, identified through the whole-genome sequencing of 3,156 mycobacterial genomes.
Validation and Implementation:
Developed and validated the assay on 20 clinical M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) strains and 5 nontuberculous mycobacteria, achieving 100% specificity for MTC.
Tested the system on 65 clinical samples (25 GeneXpert-positive, 40 GeneXpert-negative), confirming accurate detection and identification of M. tuberculosis lineages, including the Beijing lineage.
Clinical Application: Demonstrated that the CRISPR-csm4-MTB assay can complement current diagnostic tools in clinical microbiology laboratories by increasing specificity in identifying MTC pathogens responsible for tuberculosis.

This project underscores the potential of CRISPR-based approaches for precise and rapid diagnostics in both clinical and environmental settings.
articles:
https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02717-22
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2052297521001037?via%3Dihub