Dr. Jamie J. Alnasir M.Pharm (Hons) Ph.D.

Innovative Technologist, Research Scientist, and Visionary Developer

With a wide-ranging career at the intersection of cutting-edge research and high-impact projects, I bring a unique blend of scientific acumen, technical expertise, and a relentless drive for innovation. My work spans multiple domains, including distributed computing, high-performance computing (HPC), bioinformatics, and computational biology, with significant contributions to general aviation and medical technology. Notably, I have developed the world’s most comprehensive Flight Computer App, E6BJA (the name is derived from a mechanical pilot's calculator, E6-B), and CliniCompute, a clinical decision support app for medics, clinicians, and nurses.

Academic and Professional Background

I hold a Doctorate in Computer Science, focusing on Distributed and High-Performance Computing (HPC) applied to Scientific Research, along with a Master’s in Pharmacy and Chemistry. My Ph.D. was awarded for research conducted at the Centre of Systems and Synthetic Biology (CSSB), Department of Computer Science at Royal Holloway, University of London, under the supervision of Prof. Hugh Shanahan.

My areas of expertise and research interests include DNA storage, next-generation DNA and RNA sequencing, large-scale and distributed computing, HPC, software engineering, computational biology, bioinformatics, neuroscience, and pharmacology. I have published numerous research papers in these fields and presented my findings at various international conferences. With four years of teaching experience at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, I have also established, coordinated, organised and taught on specialised training modules (for example Python, Nextflow workflow language) for post-doctoral researchers and clinicians. Explore my portfolio and its sub-sections which showcase these and other academic and commercial projects in further detail.

Current Role at UCL

Currently, I work at UCL (University College London) within the Information Services Division (ISD). As a Senior Research Infrastructure Developer at UCL’s prestigious Advanced Research Computing (ARC), I am advancing the design and directing the implementation of next-generation research platforms such as Condenser, enabling groundbreaking research across disciplines like Life and Medical Sciences (SLMS), Geography, Laws, Arts and Humanities, Social and Historical Sciences (SLASH), and the Institute of Education (IOE). My role involves not just technical development but also strategic collaboration with leading academics to ensure our infrastructure meets the evolving needs of researchers.

Past Experience

Before joining UCL, I worked at NatureMetrics in the Bioinformatics Infrastructure Team, where I developed and maintained computational data pipelines for metabarcoding and metagenomic data across multiple sequencing platforms, primarily using NextFlow, BASH, Python, both on-premises and on AWS.

My previous role at the SCALE Lab at Imperial College London involved pioneering research into encoding and storing digital data within DNA, aiming to develop high-capacity, long-term archival storage technologies. This role allowed me to merge my passion for computational innovation with practical applications in emerging fields.

I began my career in software development, driven by a passion for science, particularly chemistry, which led me into the medical field, where I obtained a Master’s in Pharmacy (M.Pharm) — a joint course offered by St. George's Hospital Medical School and Kingston University. My journey then led to a doctorate in Computer Science at Royal Holloway (my Ph.D. research, dept of Economics project: full-stack infrastructure project), allowing me to integrate my scientific and computing backgrounds into a cohesive expertise.

Research Software Engineering and Teaching

In my programming career, my recent focus has been on Research Software Engineering, particularly during my tenure at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), where I provided consulting in software engineering, high-performance computing, and workflow languages to support researchers. I have specialised in Workflowm Languages (Nextflow), Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) languages, including Java, Python, Delphi, and C/C++, and have extensive experience with SQL, MySQL, Oracle Client/Server, and n-tier systems.

In academia, I have taught and marked various BSc Computer Science modules, including Java Object-Oriented Programming, Robotics, and Computer Graphics. I delivered guest lectures at Royal Holloway for the Bioinformatics module (CS3110/CS5110), focusing on Next-Generation Sequencing and Transcriptomics, and assisted with teaching large-scale data storage analysis in the MSc Data Science course. View my publications to see more of my peer-reviewed work in these and other fields.

Aviation and Pilot Training

Since a young age, I have nurtured a deep interest in aviation. During my Pilot Training in the UK with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), I developed the E6BJA Flight Computer App, an electronic version of the metal E6B slide-rule computer. This app has made a significant impact in General Aviation, offering a wide range of features from wind and diversion visualisation to descent and glide calculators. With its intuitive user interface, E6BJA has become an indispensable tool for pilots and aviation professionals.

Photography

Beyond my professional pursuits, I am also a keen photographer and have completed a Diploma in Photography with the Institute of Photography. I am a member of the Royal Holloway Photography Society.