Curriculum Vitae

Hale-Seda Radoykova | Computational Biologist

I am a highly motivated Computational Biologist and recently graduated from UCL with practical experience of big data analysis, bioinformatics, image processing, software engineering, machine learning (ML) and deep learning (AI) for image segmentation/classification, and advanced mathematical modelling of biological phenomena.

I am taking a gap year before pursuing a PhD in computational biology or related discipline. My ambition is to employ my pertinent analytical, software, and communication skills to create data-driven improvements for human health. I am passionate about big data in biology, as we begin to answer some of the most fundamental and exciting questions about living systems.


EDUCATION

2019—2023   MSci Biological Sciences: Computational Biology   University College London (UCL)
    Fist Class Honours   |   Ranked second among 39 Biological Sciences finalists
    Obtained strong analytic, software, and communication skills in Biology and Pharmaceutical contexts through the following modules:
  • Research software engineering with Python
  • Dynamic biological systems, Understanding bioinformatics resources and their application
  • Advanced computational biology
  • Advanced molecular cell biology

4th year MSci Extended Research Project (45 ECTS): Cytoskeletal actin remodelling at the immunological synapse: A quantitative comparison between T and CAR-T cells.
Host group: Simoncelli group at the London Centre for Nanotechnology, UCL.
Quantified cytoskeletal actin dynamics in cancer immunotherapy T cells from microscopy data; implemented an installable, semi-automated, documented Python pipeline/library (see GitHub).
  • Data-lead interdisciplinary problem solving: using best practices in software engineering, created a documented tool; extracted biologically-relevant parameters from ~100 super-resolution microscopy images.
  • Working in a cross-functional, interdisciplinary team: being proactive, innovative, and pragmatic, conducted an unprecedented comparison between primary and bioengineered cancer immunotherapy cells.

3rd year MSci Investigative Project (15 ECTS): Modelling the kinetics of protometabolism.
Host group: Lane Origins group, Genetics, Evolution, and Environment, UCL.
Implemented a stochastic kinetic model of protometabolic reactions in R; reviewed suitable mathematical modelling methods, extensions, and advanced frequentist and Bayesian parameter space exploration techniques (see GitHub).
  • Adaptable, innovative and uninhibited problem-solving: research on the origin of life requires a very rigorous but also unhinged, daring, and creative approach to unique challenging problems.

2017—2019   International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma         United World College of the Adriatic
    Bilingual diploma awarded with 43/45 points.
  • Higher Level subjects: Chemistry (7), Biology (6), Russian Literature (7).
  • Standard Level subjects: Mathematics (7), Global Politics (6), English B (7), Italian B (6) (certificate).



TECHNICAL SKILLS

Programming languages (example libraries):
  • Advanced: Python (numpy, scipy, pandas, scikit-learn, seaborn, openCV, pytest, requests, TensorFlow), R/RStudio (dplyr, tidyrtidyverse, ggplot2, shiny, pomp, GillespieSSA).
  • Intermediate: MATLAB (Image Processing Toolbox), bash, SQL.
Software: Git, GitHub, Visual Studio Code, FIJI/ImageJ, QGIS, LaTeX, Pandoc, Microsoft Office Excel/PowerPoint.
Analytical skills: frequentist and Bayesian statistical analysis, supervised machine learning, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), predictive modelling, big data analysis.
Software engineering: agile development, version control, testing, deployment, continuous integration.



LANGUAGE SKILLS

Native C2 B2-C1
Turkish, Bulgarian Russian, English Italian


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (TECHNICAL)

Data scientist (epidemiological modelling) at the Big Data Institute, University of Oxford (UK)    Aug, 2023 - present
    Assisting Prof Hollingsworth and an interdisciplinary team of researchers and consultants working on an externally commissioned, policy-facing project to evaluate the health and economic impacts of transmission and vaccination scenarios for neglected tropical diseases.
  • Used R and Stan for Bayesian estimation to infer the time-varying force of infection from a large curated seroprevalence data set.
  • Collaboratively set up a multilevel transmission metapopulation model to evaluate various transmission and vaccination scenarios for Chikungunya virus using geospatial data.
  • Devised creative visualisations and delivered updates at external working group presentations.

Computational researcher (summer intern) at the Randall Centre for Cell & Molecular Biophysics, King's College London (UK)    Jun-Aug, 2022
    Developed a Python tool to extract biologically-relevant information from microscopy images of yeast microtubules, exploring applied mathematics and deep learning approaches.
  • Funded by one of three Life Sciences undergraduate summer studentships offered by the Royal Microscopical Society (RMS).
  • Explored and implemented several different techniques of detecting lines in microscopy images and of quantifying biologically relevant parameters using Python (see GitHub), ranging from mathematical parametrisation to convolutional neural networks (CNNs).
  • Presented work to two other groups at the institute and published a report on the summer studentship in the infocus member magazine of the Royal Microscopical Society.

Data scientist (summer intern) at the Oxford Big Data Institute (remote / Oxford, UK)    Jul-Sep, 2021
    Used advanced stochastic modelling to understand the impacts of waning vaccination immunity against SARS-CoV-2; characterised transmission using multiple data sources.
  • Showed adaptability and perseverance while exploring advanced deterministic and stochastic modelling techniques and R packages to model waning infection and vaccination immunity against SARS-CoV-2 (see GitHub); remained curious, driven, and flexible in the face of logistic and conceptual challenges.
  • Digested complex problems and developed analytical solutions by processing, transforming, and integrating data from public repositories and peer-reviewed publications for further visualisation and analysis; tackled problems of combining large data sets from multiple sources(see GitHub).
  • Completed the ONS safe researcher training course, a GDPR-compliant data privacy and security training to access ONS databases (Office for National Statistics).



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (TRANSFERABLE)

Online private tutor at Lanterna Education (remote, UK)    Dec 2019-present
  • Developed strong communication skills by having delivered 250+ hours of Maths, Chemistry, Biology (SL and HL) tutoring.
  • Built strong rapport with all stakeholders, as evidenced by retention bonuses received for ~1/3 of students tutored rebooking tuition with me because they appreciated my individual approach, the accessible material delivery, while the parents valued my reliability.

Transition mentor at UCL Transitions Programme (remote, UK)    Sep 2020 - Mar 2021 and Sep-Dec, 2022
  • Senior Transition mentor: exhibited excellent team-building and organisations skills; organised ~90 students into 10 mentoring groups, monitored weekly attendance, responded to queries and offered individualised support to mentors and mentees alike.
  • Junior transition mentor: showed independent work and collaboration skills; worked independently and in a team to structure and deliver weekly sessions to help first-year students transition into the Biological Sciences degree.

Sustainability and inclusivity intern at UCL EAST (remote/London, UK)    Sep 2020 - Mar 2021 and Sep-Dec, 2022
  • Promoted diversity, equality, and sustainability at the new UCL EAST campus by designing and conducting surveys to integrate staff
  • Planned and developed a resource pack with interactive activities about sustainability and inclusivity to be used by future UCL Summer Schools.
  • Worded in a cross-functional teams and integrated inputs and feedback from different departments of UCL/UCL EAST in line with promoting the UCL Ways of Working.



PUBLICATIONS AND AWARDS

  • Altenhoff AM, Train CM, Gilbert KJ, Mediratta I, Mendes de Farias T, Moi D, Nevers Y, Radoykova HS, Rossier V, Warwick Vesztrocy A, Glover NM, Dessimoz C. OMA orthology in 2021: website overhaul, conserved isoforms, ancestral gene order and more. Nucleic Acids Res. 2021 Jan 8;49(D1):D373-D379. doi: 10.1093/nar/gkaa1007.
  • Culley S and Radoykova S. Using image processing to quantify biologically relevant information in microscopy imagesUsing image processing to quantify biologically relevant information in microscopy images. infocus Magazine. 2023 Mar 6, Issue 69.
  • Harold and Olga Fox Award for best 3rd year MSci Investigative Project symposium presentation. 2022 Jul. Project title: Modelling the kinetics of protometabolism.



Volunteering Experience

Hale-Seda-Radoykova

UCL Div. of Biosciences

As I wanted to engage with the student community at my department and improve their experience, I volunteered with the department administration and teaching staff.

Date Role Responsibilities Skills
2019-2023 Divisional Student Representative
(elected Lead rep for 2021-2022)		 ● Worked independently in teams, communicating with cohort of ~100 students, academic and admin staff.
● Delivered feedback, sought solutions, and suggested improvements to the student experience jointly with staff on regular student-staff consultative committee meetings.		 Conflict resolution, communication, time-management
2019-2022 Student Staff Integration Ambassador ● Helped organise a social activity for Biological sciences students once per term, aimed to encourage divisional student and staff interaction and cooperation. Teamwork, communication, team-building

UCL Marrow

UCL Marrow is a student branch of the national and international blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. Being one of the two charities that maintain a stem cell register, its main objectives are to recruit new sign-ups and to raise awareness and funds for the charity.UCL Marrow is a student branch of the national and international blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. Being one of the two charities that maintain a stem cell register, its main objectives are to recruit new sign-ups and to raise awareness and funds for the charity.

Date Role Responsibilities Skills
2022-2021 Vice President ● Alongside the society President, conducted and delivered all health and safety + risk assessment paper-work to the Students' Union in order to resume in-person work. As university life returned to fully in-person events, I facilitated the return of in-person campaigns for UCL Marrow by leveraging my pre-COVID-19 experience with the volunteering society.
● Lobbied for the introduction of contactless card readers to aid safe fund-raising.
● Helped the senior committee members train a team of ~15 volunteers at the beginning of term, introducing them to the goals and values of the charity and the new COVID-safe donor signup procedure.		 Project management, prioritisation, volunteer management
2020-2021 Treasurer ● Worked in a team to plan, organise, and deliver 2x online fundraising campaigns, ensuring communication between teams and adapting to unprecedented remote delivery style.
● Volunteer of the month November 2020. 		Teamwork, prioritisation, responsibility
2019-2020 Volunteer ● Assisted committee members in donor recruitment activities which consisted of approaching students on campus to introduce them to the stem cell register and recruit them as potential stem cell donors. Public speaking, communication

UCL Data Science Society

The UCL Data Science Society aims to create opportunities for students from different backgrounds to enter Data Science by organising networking events and delivering beginner-friendly and intermediate workshops.

Date Role Responsibilities Skills
2021-2022 Science executive ● Collaborated with the Science team to review and update the workshops from previous years.
● Delivered 2-3 introductory (e.g. NumPy, Pandas) and intermediate (logistic regression) Python for Data Science workshops each term.
● Developed new workshops and placed them on the society's GitHub: (1) logistic regression and (2) best coding practices in Python.		 Teamwork, public-speaking, workshop development and delivery

GLOW Association (Bulgaria)

The GLOW Association aims to develop the leadership skills of girls in Bulgaria. Being an alumna of the summer camp they deliver (2015), I returned the following year (2016) as a Junior Counsellor (a facilitator at the camp who delivers workshops). After a forced break due to moving schools/countries, I returned to the organisation online, during the COVID lockdown, as Alumni Relations Coordinator.

Date Role Responsibilities Skills
Sep 2015 - Jul 2016 Junior Counsellor ● Planned and delivered workshops for small (< 10), medium (< 35), and large (< 70) on topics including time-management, sustainability, leadership, and financial education. Teamwork, communication, team-building, leadership, reflection, diversity and inclusion.
Sep 2020 - Jul 2021 Alumni Relations Coordinator ● Liaised with other teams (e.g. Social Media) to increase alumni outreach and engagement;
● Updated/created content of manuals used by staff to prepare leadership-themed sessions and workshops for the academy;
● Assisted the organisation and delivery of online Q&A events on specialised, career-oriented themes, targetting GLOW alumnae.		 Liaising with different teams, event organisation

Human Rights in Action - UWC Short Course (Switzerland)

UWC Short Courses are summer camps aimed at introducing students who did not attend a United World College to the UWC movement and values in an immersive non-formal educational experience.

Date Role Responsibilities Skills
June-Jul 2019 Facilitator ● Planned and executed educational workshops aiming to engage a group of 36 participants with Human Rights and inspire them to deliver change in their local communities.
● In addition to conventional lecturing, employed interactive approaches i.e. designing posters, developing personal projects, presentations, problem-based learning, teamwork.		 Non-formal education, team-building, responsibility, planning and organisation