Hacking COVID-19: Tracing SARS-CoV-2's Evolution

Niema Moshiri has transitioned from a Ph.D. student to an Associate Teaching Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of California, San Diego. His academic journey began with a B.S. in Bioengineering: Bioinformatics, followed by a Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology from UCSD, where he was co-advised by Siavash Mirarab and Pavel Pevzner. His research focuses on computational biology, particularly in phylogenetics and phylogenomics, as well as computational viral epidemiology. As an educator, Moshiri has made significant contributions to computer science education, including co-authoring the interactive online textbook "Data Structures: An Active Learning Approach" and developing Massive Adaptive Interactive Texts (MAITs) for use in flipped classrooms and MOOCs. He is affiliated with the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the UC San Diego School of Medicine and the Halicioglu Data Science Institute. Moshiri's work extends to reviewing for numerous scientific journals and conferences in bioinformatics and computer science education.

Pavel Arkadevich Pevzner serves as the Ronald R. Taylor Professor of Computer Science at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the NIH Center for Computational Mass Spectrometry, where he has revolutionized the field of computational biology since 2000. After receiving his Ph.D. in mathematics and physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, he completed postdoctoral work with Michael Waterman at USC, before establishing himself through positions at Penn State and USC. His groundbreaking research spans bioinformatics algorithms, genome rearrangements, DNA sequencing, and computational proteomics, leading to significant advances in genome assembly and antibiotics discovery. His academic excellence has been recognized through numerous prestigious honors, including the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professorship (2006), ACM Fellowship (2010), ISCB Fellowship (2012), and the ACM Paris Kanellakis Theory and Practice Award (2018). As an educator, he has transformed bioinformatics education through innovative approaches, including the development of massive open online courses that have reached over half a million students, and authored influential textbooks including "Computational Molecular Biology: An Algorithmic Approach" and "Bioinformatics Algorithms: An Active Learning Approach"

Sabeel Mansuri is a Software Engineer at the University of California San Diego, where he combines his expertise in software development with a strong focus on bioinformatics. He serves as an instructor for multiple online courses on Coursera, including a series dedicated to analyzing COVID-19, which covers topics such as identifying pathogens and tracing viral evolution. Sabeel's work extends to developing tutorials for advanced genetic data analysis using Oxford Nanopore technology, showcasing his commitment to bridging technology and biology. His academic background equips him with the skills necessary to tackle complex problems in health informatics, making significant contributions to both educational platforms and research initiatives. Passionate about leveraging technology for scientific advancement, Sabeel continues to inspire others through his teaching and innovative projects in the field of data science and bioinformatics.

Vikram Sirupurapu is a Master's student at the University of California San Diego, where he actively engages in research related to COVID-19. He is involved in a series of online courses on Coursera titled "Hacking COVID-19," which includes modules such as Identifying a Deadly Pathogen, Decoding SARS-CoV-2's Secrets, Unraveling COVID-19's Origins, Tracing SARS-CoV-2's Evolution, and Metabolic Pathway Analysis Yields SARS-CoV-2 Drug Targets. These courses focus on understanding the virus's biology and identifying potential drug targets, showcasing Vikram's commitment to advancing knowledge in the field of infectious diseases. Through his academic pursuits, he aims to contribute to the global effort in combating COVID-19 and enhancing public health outcomes.

Dr. Mikhail Rayko is a prominent researcher at the University of California San Diego, specializing in bioinformatics and viral genomics. With a focus on understanding the complexities of viral evolution, he has played a significant role in developing computational tools that aid in the assembly and analysis of viral genomes, particularly in the context of COVID-19. As an instructor for several courses on Coursera, including the "Hacking COVID-19" series, Dr. Rayko shares his expertise with over 20,000 learners, guiding them through the intricacies of pathogen identification and drug target discovery. His contributions to the field extend to the development of innovative algorithms for long-read genome assembly, which have been crucial for advancing research in metagenomics and virology. Dr. Rayko's work not only enhances our understanding of viral biology but also supports global efforts to combat infectious diseases through improved data analysis and interpretation.