Ali Farhat

Education

M.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan, 2018

B.S. in Biochemistry and Mathematical Biology from the University of Michigan, 2016

Research Interests

My research interests lie primarily in using computations to understand the rules which underpin biochemical regulation of cells. To that end, I am working on two projects. The first involves designing a tool to perform inference on ChIP-seq and IPOD data. The aim for the tool is to use data and sequence information to infer both the number and identity of sequence motifs transcription factors use to bind the genome. Ideally, this will allow us both to predict transcription factors de novo and to deduce if a transcription factor may actually bind more than one distinct motif. The second project uses a series of simulations of proteins involved in yeast heterochromatin formation. Through these simulations, we hope to help elucidate the results of experimental collaborators and deduce the specifics of heterochromatin regulation in yeast. 

Professional History

2017-2018, 2019 to Present: Graduate Research Assistant 

Freddolino Lab, Biological Chemistry Department, University of Michigan

2014 to 2016: Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jackson Lab, Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan

Publications

Farhat A., Jiang D., Cui D., Keller E.T., Jackson T.L. An integrative model of prostate cancer interaction with the bone microenvironment. Mathematical Biosciences (2017).

Fellowships and Awards

 Bioinformatics Training Grant, University of Michigan, 2019-present