Neelu Begum

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Neelu is currently working on understanding the adaptive evolution of Rhynchophorus ferrugineus invasive species as a model system. The project aims to collect multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, metagenomics) to understand population demography, link genotype-phenotype relationship, and genetic variation in adaptation across native and invasive species from habitats across the globe. This species poses an environmental and economic threat that expands across the world.

Before joining Boissinot Lab, Neelu completed her PhD at King’s College London in Computational biology approach to studying the mycobiome using multi-omics data and bioinformatics. Her specialty is working with big data and using bioinformatic tools to integrate and translate multi-omics data to unpick metabolic interaction.

Before her PhD studentship, she worked in researching novel drugs for MDR tuberculosis at the Centre of Clinical Microbiology at University College London. She has prior experience of working in governmental research and development for NGS technology and molecular diagnostics. She completed her MSc in Molecular Microbiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She performed her masters research secondment at Imperial College London, investigating the molecular basis for the intracellular persistence of S. aureus. Neelu attained her bachelor’s degree at St. George’s university, studying biomedical science, specializing in immunity and infection.