Candidate Statement – Hilyatuz Zahroh

Career Summary:

I have background in bioinformatics and biochemistry. My present research is in the fields of genetics of human diseases, pharmacogenomics, and population genetics. Outside of research and academia, I serve scientific community as an ExCo member of the Asia Pacific Bioinformatics Network and the member of Board of Directors of the Open Bioinformatics Foundation (OBF). To further my advocacy for open science, I run APBioNETTalks, an open-source bioinformatics online education platform. In addition, I oversee the Indonesian preprint service, RINArxiv, as a moderator/editor.

Research/Work Experience:

The majority of my current research is focused on human disease genetics, pharmacogenomics, and population genetics. I use bioinformatics approaches to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver damage, leprosy, and multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In addition, I do NGS analyses of pharmacogenes in Indonesian populations. I’ve also worked on structural bioinformatics, especially protein structure analysis and drug design. I have authored at least 14 peer-reviewed publications (including in-press journal and conference articles) and regularly received several research grants from my institution.

Contributions to APBioNET: 

I have been involved with APBioNET through a variety of its initiatives, including InSyB 2017 (program committee), BFW 2018 (vice chair), InCoB 2019 (vice chair), InCoB 2020 (program committee), InSyB 2022 (program committee), APBioNET liaison, APBioNET volunteer program, and many others. I also started and have been managing APBioNETTalks beginning in 2020. Furthermore, I am a contributing member of the Bioinformatics Grand Challenge Consortium (BGCC) and article. In addition, I nominated talented, dedicated people for APBioNET ExCo candidates, which will further support APBioNET goals and programs.

Proposed future contributions to APBioNET:

For the foreseeable future, I plan to keep contributing to APBioNETTalks and the Bioinformatics Grand Challenge Consortium. I will also seek to increase the visibility of APBioNET and underrepresented scientists in the communities in which I am involved.