Dr Tiff Nelson
Tiff joined BioCommons in 2019 with a background in marine science, microbiology and ecology. Her research experience focused on understanding the links between microbes and their environment and the subsequent implications for the health of the planet, humans and animals. This included global patterns of seal gut microbiomes, investigating soil microbes as early indicators of sea level rise, the role of bacterial vaginosis in women’s reproductive health, and sequencing the genome of a new virus strain with sepsis-like symptoms affecting Australian infants.
Tiff now applies her expertise in collecting, optimising and analysing large genomic datasets at BioCommons by interacting with life scientists who have a data-intensive component of their work. Tiff engages with researchers to understand the roadblocks and challenges they face, be it tools, software, data analysis or other compute-related processes. Tiff then works with the BioCommons team and our partners to ease the burden of these challenges on researchers.
When Tiff isn’t supporting researchers, helping others or learning about new technologies for solving health and environmental problems, she’s likely to be found outdoors walking, camping or swimming. She also loves attending concerts, listening to music and reading a good book!
Tiff's position is funded by Bioplatforms Australia and hosted at QCIF, Griffith University and the University of Newcastle.