Data Driven Discovery and Informatics Group

Lead: Dr Ed Schwalbe

The Data-Driven Discovery and Informatics (3DI) Group brings together researchers from diverse disciplines within the Department of Applied Sciences, including bioinformatics, genomics, spectrometry, chemi-informatics and forensic science. We apply computational methods and data analysis techniques to large and complex datasets to uncover novel insights, develop innovative tools, and drive scientific progress.

Through using cutting-edge computational tools and algorithms, the analysis of big data enables the identification of patterns and corrrelations that would be difficult to identify using traditional experimental methods. Key areas of research include:

Genomics

•Method development for population genetics and genome-wide analysis

•Application of these methods to improve human health outcomes.

Bioinformatics

•Development of tools for systems biology research

•QTL analysis in agriculture and models of obesity 

•Analysis of big data for translational oncology. 

•Development of software and infrastructure for microbiome analysis and their application for better living. 

Chemo-informatics

•Computational modelling of self-assembly processes in ordered materials and rationalising experimental trends in ordered systems using computational methods

Forensic Science

•Proteomics and methylomics for age-at-death and post-mortem-interval estimation

•Development of statistical frameworks for analysing forensic data

The group is inherently interdisciplinary and works closely with other research groups from Northumbria University and elsewhere to tackle complex scientific questions.