Mr Waqas Khokhar

I joined CCCU as a Lecturer in Biological Data Science and Bioinformatics in 2023. I have received a bachelor's degree in bioinformatics from Comsats University and a master's degree in bioinformatics from Quaid-I-Azam University. I earned a doctorate in biological sciences with a major in Bioinformatics from Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) and later went on to complete a postdoctoral research position focusing on bioinformatics at Lancaster University.

I have capitalized on my diversified skills and experience to teach diverse range of Bioinformatics and Data science modules at different universities. My teaching modules at CCCU includes Bioinformatics, Human Genetics, and Big Data for Biomedical Scientists. 

I have applied my strong background in bioinformatics and statistical approaches to analyse large-scale (>1000) multi-omics (genomic, transcriptomic, methylomic) next-generation sequencing datasets using high-performance computing environments. It helped to get a detailed insight into genetic architecture, transcriptome complexity, proteome plasticity, and phenotypic diversity generated by different genome regulatory mechanisms in animals, viruses, bacteria, plants, and humans. My research has been published in Plant Science and Nucleic Acids Research.

I have developed a strong collaboration with scientific community across the globe. Specifically, my research collaboration with Prof. Muhammad Munir (Lancaster University) helped to underpin virus-induced transcriptomics profiling and mechanisms of immune evasion. We co-draft four manuscripts as a part of PhD studentships. This collaboration further enabled us to design strategies and employ bioinformatics approaches to deal with infectious diseases including SARS-COV-2, influenza and Monkeypox virus. Moreover, as a part of this collaboration we are submitting grant of £1.1 Million to Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).