Thi Hai Au La

Bioinformatics-focused molecular biologist with 3+ years supporting public health genomics - pathogen identification, molecular epidemiology, and outbreak investigation using Linux/HPC-based bioinformatics tools (Nextflow, samtools, BWA). Experienced across genome assembly, annotation, variant analysis, and phylogenetics for environmental sample. Performs sequencing and analysis workflows in-house, with a track record of mentoring and cross-training undergraduate students, translating complex genomic findings for public health decision-making, and contributing to 7 peer-reviewed publications on high-consequence pathogens.

Graduate research assistant at University of Hawai'i at Manoa (2024-01 – Present)

• Lead end-to-end NGS workflows for 30+ samples including nucleic acid extraction, library prep, and whole genome sequencing on Nanopore MinION platform, building QC into every step and training team members.
• Apply Linux/HPC-based bioinformatics tools (e.g. Nextflow, samtools, BWA) to analyze 1,400+ bacterial genomes and process 150+ environmental samples, generating data that supports 7 peer-reviewed publications focusing on Burkholderia pseudomallei, Brucella suis, Brucella ceti, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus anthracis, Leptospira sp..
• Run sequencing and bioinformatics analysis fully in-house (library prep in hours, 3-day sequencing run) instead of outsourcing (~2-week turnaround), cutting turnaround time 60%+ and eliminating per-sample analysis costs across 1,400+ genomes analyzed.
• Serve as primary technical liaison between Vietnam and US research teams, translating needs into NGS datasets and keeping partners aligned on deliverables.
• Lead vaccine-adjuvant project on melioidosis from design through manuscript (accepted, Infection and Immunity).
• Mentor a UROP undergraduate researcher one-on-one in molecular biology and experimental design.

Researcher at Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology (2023-08 – 2023-12)

• Established and optimized molecular diagnostic assays for 7 aquatic pathogens
• Performed Illumina MiSeq sequencing and surveillance of Burkholderia pseudomallei (47 samples) using Galaxy and Linux-based pipelines for assembly, annotation, phylogenetics, and MLST typing.
• Coordinated field investigations across 3 provinces with aquaculture farmers, translating findings for non-technical stakeholders.

Master's student at Prince of Songkla University (2021-06 – 2023-06)

• Identified genomic determinants associated with differences in virulence of 7 Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates through comparative genomics and transcriptomics using Galaxy and Linux-based bioinformatics pipelines, and R for data visualization
• Conducted bacterial infection assay in shrimp, performed high quality DNA/RNA extraction for sequencing, and validated computational findings through PCR, RT-qPCR and gene expression analysis
• Maintained organized genomic datasets and submitted sequencing data to NCBI SRA

M.S. in Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics – Prince of Songkla University (2021-06 – 2023-06)

B.S. in Biotechnology – Prince of Songkla University (2017-07 – 2021-04)