Yassine Souilmi

Dr Yassine Souilmi

ARC Grant-Funded Researcher (B)

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD). Prior to joining ACAD, I was trained as a bioinformatics researcher at the Department for Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Harvard University. I am a Fulbright alumnus and have played a significant leadership role in coordinating bioinformatics training and networks in Africa.

Currently, I lead an international team of researchers to data-mine the Online Ancient Genome Repository (OAGR)—a comprehensive centralized database containing all known ancient DNA specimens, genomes, and associated metadata. In this project, we use ancient DNA to uncover the genetic signatures of human adaptation to significant environmental, and socio-cultural changes over the last 20,000 years in Eurasia.

In addition, I am leading an effort to improve ancient DNA bioinformatic analyses and apply novel technological methods to address outstanding evolutionary questions. For instance, we are using pan-genome graphs to capture human genomic diversity omitted currently in linear reference genomes, early results using this approach showed major improvement in reducing reference bias, and improving population genomics inferences.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2016 - ongoing ARC Postdoctoral Researcher University of Adelaide
    2014 - 2015 Research and Teaching Assistant Harvard University
    2014 - 2014 Teaching Assistant Harvard University
    2013 - 2013 Adjunct Bioinformatics Instructor Mohammed V University of Rabat

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2013 Scholarship Fulbright Joint Supervision Doctoral Grant Harvard University United States -

  • Language Competencies
    Language Competency
    Arabic Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    French Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    Spanish; Castilian Can read and understand spoken

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2012 - 2016 Mohammed V University Morocco PhD
    2008 - 2011 Mohammed V University Morocco MS
    2004 - 2008 Mohammed V University Morocco BS

  • Research Interests
    Bioinformatics Bioinformatics Software Biological Evolutionary Biology Genetics Genomics Medical Genetics

I have an extensive bioinformatics teaching experience, having participated in teaching activities at the University of Mohamed the Vth and at Harvard University (BMI 714) where I designed, taught and graded bioinformatics practicums between 2014 and 2016. Furthermore, I have trained, organised and ran over 25 different bioinformatics workshops in Africa, the United States, and Australia covering a wide range of basic to advanced topics. 

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Genomic time travel: Unravelling the evolutionary history of fauna using paleogenomics Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Shyamsundar Ravishankar

  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2021 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Advances in Genomic Data Compression Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Divon Mordechai Lan
    2019 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Human demographic insights from paleogenetic studies of American and Iberian skeletal remains Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Xavier Roca Rada
    2018 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Quantifying and Reducing Biases in Paleogenomic Research Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Adrien Oliva
    2017 - 2022 Co-Supervisor Exploring the Genetic History of the Ancient Near East through the Bronze
    and Iron Ages    		 Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Matthew Peter Williams
  • Position: ARC Grant-Funded Researcher (B)
  • Phone: 83135565
  • Email: yassine.souilmi@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134364
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Darling, floor 2
  • Org Unit: Molecular and Biomedical Science
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