Furkan M. Torun

I am a molecular biologist and geneticist with solid research experience and a programming background.

After working as a computational biologist and data scientist at a rare disease research lab and at OmicEra Diagnostics, respectively, I am currently employed at Exact Sciences as a Researcher and Data Scientist.

The ultimate goal of my work is to combine the power of computation with mysterious biological questions to uncover the unknown.

So, let's continue 🧬 debugging DNA software!

Academic Works and Open-Source Projects:

• ► Publications are listed on my Google Scholar profile.
• ► Side projects are available on my GitHub profile.

Research Areas and Interests:

• I am always captivated by the complexity of cells and the dynamics within them. Consequently, my main interests include:
• ► Data Science & Engineering
• ► (AWS) Cloud-native Development
• ► Machine Learning
• ► Computational Biology/Bioinformatics
• ► Genetics & Omics Data Analysis

• Programming Languages: Python, Bash, JavaScript
• Web Development: Flask, Django, HTML/CSS, jQuery
• Cloud and IaC: AWS, Terraform, Packer
• Machine/Deep Learning: Scikit-learn, XGBoost/LGBM, PyTorch
• Others: Docker, REST and GraphQL APIs, SQL/NoSQL Databases, CI/CD, BDD, Airflow, Metaflow, Celery, DVC
• Bioinformatics/Computational Biology: Genetics/Genomics, Biomarker discovery, Variant calling & annotation, RNA-Seq, CLI/GUI tool and database/platform development

Talks: [Watch on YouTube]

• ► Talk titled "Become a Data Storyteller with Streamlit!" at PyData Meetup, Prague, November 2023 and at PyMunich Meetup, Munich, May 2024.
• ► Two PyCon talks titled "How to Build an Open-Source Machine Learning Platform in Biology?" at PyCon CZ, Prague, September 2023 and at PyCon IT, Florence, May 2023.
• ► Talk about machine learning on biological datasets in PyLadies and Munich DataGeeks meetups, Munich, June 2023.
• ► Poster about ConVarT project at 52nd European Human Genetics Conference, Gothenburg, June 2019.

Awards & Honors:
• ► My first first-authored paper OmicLearn is featured on the cover of Journal of Proteome Research, February 2023.
• ► Graduated with a high honor degree (3.63/4.00) and 1st ranked in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Turkey, June 2022.
• ► Received the Travel Fellowship by Open Bioinformatics Foundation, May 2022.

• ► Co-organizer | Bits in Bio x Munich Chapter.
• Brought everyone interested in biotechnology, management, bioinformatics, or software in life sciences together with regular in-person events and sponsored meetups.


• ► Co-founder and Director | NadirHastalik.org (Turkish)
  
• Established the platform and led the team for an open-access database about rare diseases in Turkish and creating public awareness.