Contacts

I am an experienced molecular biology and bioinformatics researcher and educator who has worked with students at all levels of experience, from first-year college to advanced trainees and senior investigators. Here at NCI, I help to train scientists on bioinformatics tools for the analysis of next-generation sequencing (NGS) data in cancer. This includes RNA-Seq technologies, single cell, variant analysis, gene ontology and pathways.

I am a formally trained biological and molecular anthropologist, with past research interests in diverse topics related to microbial ecology, degraded DNA, taphonomy, and skeletal biology. Throughout my research career in academia, I developed a passion for data science, bioinformatics, and teaching. Here at NCI, I train researchers to analyze their own high throughput data using a variety of bioinformatics tools, skills, platforms, and languages.

I am one of the trainers with BTEP and enjoy helping others acquire bioinformatics and data science skills. I can answer your questions related to R, Python, Unix, or commercial bioinformatics software.

I have a broad research background in bioinformatics and genomics.  My specific research training has involved computational approaches to understand gene regulation, chromatin structure, protein-DNA interactions, epigenetics, and genome evolution.  Currently, I am a Staff Scientist at the Center for Cancer Research Genomics Core at the National Cancer Institute.  In this role, I am responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the data delivery and archiving pipelines for the Core’s Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) instruments, and providing bioinformatics support to CCR researchers, ranging from experimental design consultations to downstream analyses of NGS data. 

Bioinformatician with strong background in biological data analysis, software engineering and molecular biology techniques at the wet bench. Since 2005, my work has focused on software and workflow development using high-performance computing clusters, computer architecture and advanced programming techniques for data analysis, data management, quality control and visualization of biological data.

Dr. Peter Fitzgerald’s NIH career spanned more than 40 years. Some of his first lectures and demonstrations were of the World Wide Web and other tools founded in the very first days of the internet. During his time at NIH, he developed novel analytical software, managed high performance computer resources, and analyzed Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) data. In addition to his many computational and analytical accomplishments, Dr. Fitzgerald co-founded the Bioinformatics Training and Education Program (BTEP), to help NIH scientists learn to analyze their own data. His work with the program over the next 12 years resulted in the training of thousands of researchers in the use of computational tools and techniques via seminars, classes, and workshops.