98 Nomadic bioinformatics with Frank

We interview Frank Ambrosio. He is embarking on a lifestyle of nomadic bioinformatics, living his best life. * https://www.linkedin.com/in/francis-ambrosio/ In this episode of the MicroBinfie podcast, Frank Ambrosio, a bioinformatician working for Theiagen as a traveling bioinformatician, joins co-hosts Andrew Nabil and Lee to talk about his journey into bioinformatics. Frank shares how he transitioned from being a lab technician and microbiologist to analyzing his own data and pursuing a master's program in bioinformatics at Georgia Tech. He also discusses his experience working at the CDC, where he gained exposure to different laboratories working on tuberculosis, biodefense research and development, surveillance-oriented production laboratories for strep genomes, and the division of HIV/AIDS prevention. Frank gives tips for aspiring bioinformaticians, recommending that early career scientists focus on applying for contracting agencies at the CDC to gain valuable experience and eventually become full-time employees. He also suggests starting with a virtual machine and a cloud-based IDE like Google Cloud and VS Code for ease of use and reliability. The conversation then moves onto Frank's nomadic lifestyle as a traveling bioinformatician, and his desire to connect with the public health community worldwide. Frank shares his recent experience meeting collaborators in Mozambique and the importance of building personal connections with colleagues in public health for collaboration and support. Frank concludes by discussing his approach to routines while traveling and how he uses his Google calendar to plan out his days and weeks. He emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability as a traveling bioinformatician, and his eagerness to continue meeting new people and building connections in the public health community. Moving on to Frank's lifestyle as a digital nomad bioinformatician, he explains how he enjoys enhanced flexibility, better quality of life, and the ability to work anywhere in the world. However, he also highlights that this lifestyle model could be challenging, particularly for those who prefer greater stability and predictability. Nabil wonders how possible it would be for bioinformaticians to engage in mentoring and education while working as digital nomads. Frank acknowledges the concerns but highlights that he has been fortunate enough to maintain his mentor relationships remotely. He talks about how working with someone on a project can facilitate a stronger and more rewarding mentor-mentee relationship. The hosts note that flexibility is not new to bioinformatics and that technological advancement is making it easier to find intelligent people worldwide to join in the missions of organizations like the CDC. Frank reflects on his future, reserving the potential to remain with his current institution, Theiagen. He remains optimistic about the potential of these digital collaborations and is open to new opportunities to help the global bioinformatics community.