Samantha Lawson

Computational Biologist & Research Software Engineer

Research software engineer specializing in bioinformatics and computational biology. Passionate about data analysis, statistical methods, and developing reproducible research solutions.

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Experience

Professional Journey

Research Software Engineer

Queen Mary University of London | June 2023 - Present

Develop containerised R and Python workflows for computational research projects
Design and deploy Shiny applications for genomic and transcriptomic data visualization
Optimize research workflows for high-performance computing environments
Mentor researchers and lead department workshops on programming and best practices

Director of Product Development

Pure Gradient LTD | July 2023 - Present

Co-founder and technical lead of biotech-focused consultancy
Lead design and development of healthcare tools utilizing machine learning
Oversee product strategy for scalable data analysis solutions

Analytical Scientist

Institute of Cancer Research | June 2021 - May 2023

Designed and optimised multi-omics analysis strategies in collaboration with researchers to maximize insights from available data sources

Senior Research Assistant

Oregon Health & Science University | June 2019 - May 2021

Managed a molecular biology research lab with a focus on computational analysis and laboratory experiments

Technical Skills

Expertise

Data Science & Programming

R, Python, Julia, SQL, MATLAB, Linux/Unix, Bash scripting

Research Computing

HPC environments, CPU/GPU parallelisation, Docker, Apptainer, Git

Bioinformatics

Next-generation sequencing analysis, single-cell analysis, multi-omics integration, GSEA

Machine Learning & Statistics

PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn, Bayesian modelling

Research Software Development

Web applications, R Shiny dashboards, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins)

Education & Certifications

Academic Background

Certificate in Pharmacoepidemiology & Pharmacovigilance

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine | Nov 2024 - May 2025

MSc, Bioinformatics & Computational Biology

Oregon Health & Science University | December 2020

Thesis: "Predictive modelling of ferroptosis susceptibility using iron-dependent pathways in renal cell carcinoma"

BSc, Biochemistry (Minor in Spanish)

Whitworth University | May 2016

Carpentries Instructor

The Carpentries | Spring 2026

Certification in evidence-based teaching practices for technical and data science curricula, including lesson design, live coding instruction, and formative assessment techniques

Certified in Cybersecurity

ISC² | Winter 2024

Foundational training in network security, security operations, and compliance procedures

Linux Network and System Administration Certification

City, University of London | Autumn 2022

Training in Linux system configuration, user management, task automation, shell scripting, and security

Publications

Research Output

Fernando W, Clucas J, Rizzo A, et al. Necroptosis in both tumour and stromal compartments determines responsiveness to immunogenic cell death-based immunotherapy. Nature Communications. Article in Press. 2026 19 February. doi:10.1038/s41467-026-70133-8
Cacheiro P, Lawson S, Van den Veyver I, et al. Lethal phenotypes in Mendelian disorders. medRxiv. 2024 January 12. doi:10.01101/2024.01.12.24301168
Lue HW, Derrick DS, Rao S, et al. Cabozantinib and dasatinib synergize to induce tumor regression in non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Cell Rep Med. 2021;2(5):100267. 2021 May 7. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100267