Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies

The Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies (ODSET) coordinates the development and implementation of NIAID’s data science strategy across its entire global portfolio of research and training programs. The overall goal of the office is to enable the efficient use of data and computational methods to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. Read more about ODSET.

ODSET Team

Wilbert van Panhuis, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Scientific Officer
Director, NIAID Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

M.D., Free University Medical Center, The Netherlands
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

Wilbert van Panhuis, M.D., Ph.D., is a globally recognized leader in data science for public health, with an established track record of improving access and use of data for public health research. He has been highly successful in building large-scale international partnerships for data sharing, data integration, and data-driven research on infectious diseases, with scientists from varied
Headshot of Wilbert van Panhuis

Sydney Foote, M.P.H. [C]

Data Scientist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

B.S., M.P.H., University of Michigan

Sydney received both her BS in Microbiology and her MPH in Hospital and Molecular Epidemiology from the University of Michigan. She first joined ODSET as an Emerging Leaders in Data Science Fellow, during which she completed rotations in bioinformatics, epidemiology, natural language processing, and data visualization with Intramural and Extramural groups at NIAID. After graduating from the
headshot of Sydney Foote

Meghan Hartwick, Ph.D. [C]

Data Scientist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

M.Sc., Tufts University
Ph.D., University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH

Meghan Hartwick is a Data Scientist in the Office of Science and Emerging Technologies (ODSET). During her Ph.D work in Molecular and Evolution Systems Biology (MESB) at the University of New Hampshire and MSc work in Conservation Medicine with Tufts University, she developed mathematical models and bioinformatic approaches to predict public health risk from emerging water and foodborne microbial
Headshot of Meghan Hartwick

Asiyah Yu Lin M.B., M. Sc., Ph.D. [C]

Senior Data Scientist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

Ph.D., Kobe University, Japan
M.B., TongJi Medical College, China
M.Sc., TongJi Medical College, China

Dr. Asiyah Yu Lin is an ontologist trained in immunology, pediatrics, and informatics and a Senior Data Scientist in ODSET. She earned her Ph.D. in Medical Informatics from Kobe University, Japan and received her M.B. in Pediatrics and M.Sc. in Immunology from TongJi Medical College, China. Her career spans a range of roles at academic institutions, at private start-ups, and in government across
headshot of Asiyah Yu Lin

Lisa Mayer, M.P.H [C]

Data Scientist

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

M.P.H., University of Michigan

Lisa is a Data Scientist in the Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies (ODSET) where she tracks and analyzes NIAID-relevant data assets for FAIR compliance as the Data Asset Coordinator and fosters community engagement through management of the NIAID Data Science website. Previously she worked with the office as a fellow through the Emerging Leaders in Data Science program completing
headshot of Lisa Mayer

John J. McGowan, Ph.D. [C]

Data Science Consultant

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

M.S., Ph.D., University of Mississippi

Dr. John J. McGowan launched the Office of Data Science and Emerging Technologies and was the acting head of ODSET while he recruited Wilbert into the position before retiring but remains with the ODSET team as a consultant. Even before launching ODSET, Dr. McGowan had an extremely successful career at the NIH and NIAID, including serving as the Acting Deputy Directory for Management, the Director
Headshot of John J. McGowan

Javier Perez-Fuentes [C]

Admin Support

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Javier came from a financial institute before joining the ODSET team in 2020. He is currently at Montgomery College studying Communications. His work with ODSET is keeping the team equipped with laptops and other materials (office supplies and peripherals) as well as organizing the team calendar as to not miss webinars and events. He ensures this by also sending out weekly Newsletters via email to
Headshot of Javier Perez-Fuentes

Fellows

ODSET is currently hosting four Emerging Leaders in Data Science Fellows: Fausto Andres Bustos Carrillo, Linh Shinguyen, Rahul Subramanian,and Diego Seira. More details about current and past Fellows, how fellows are furthering the NIAID mission through data science, and applying to the Fellowship are available on the Emerging Leaders in Data Science Fellowship Program page.

Previous Staff

A listing of previous staff can be found on Data Science Career Paths.

About ODSET

Given the global reach of the NIAID research community, ODSET aims to advance data science for infectious and immune-mediated disease research worldwide. Areas of emphasis for ODSET include:

  • Providing centralized leadership and vision for the role of data science in accelerating research in top NIAID strategic areas, including research on HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, influenza, COVID-19, and many other areas of emphasis
  • Developing new research and training initiatives that include data science methods, approaches, and technologies in close collaboration with the seven NIAID intramural and extramural divisions and with colleagues in the NIAID Office of the Director
  • Improving the discovery, access, and use of NIAID relevant data for computational analytical methods, following the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles as a roadmap
  • Advancing the use of data science methods and technologies, such as AI, for improved preparedness against emerging infectious diseases and pandemic threats jointly with colleagues from across NIAID and the US Government
  • Providing scientific expertise in data science subdomains, such as artificial intelligence, systems modeling, informatics research, (meta)data representations and interoperability, cloud-based technologies, and data repositories, as well as their applications, to NIAID research and training programs

By way of its broad mission, ODSET supports all NIAID initiatives towards the discovery of new diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines to address some of the largest global health threats of our time.

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