About me
I’ve worked in biotech for over 13 years as a technical contributor, project lead and team leader but always maintaining a hands-on role. My career has spanned machine learning development, complex data analysis, pipeline development, software engineering and biology.
I’m skilled in data analysis and machine learning in both Python and R and have a strong grounding in statistics and mathematics from my PhD in theoretical physics. I’ve built pipelines, scripts and other software in Python, R, and C++ following software development best practices in regulated environments. I’ve applied these skills to genomic and transcriptomic data in problems from reproductive health, immunology, ophthalmology, and diabetes.
Portfolio examples
| Project | Summary | Skills |
|---|---|---|
| Karyomapping | I developed the machine-learning algorithm behind Illumina’s PGT-M product, working alongside the software team to implement the production version of the algorithm. I performed in-depth analysis of a global beta trial to validate the performance of the product in the field (Natesan et al, 2014). I provided internal and external training and developed the customer-facing documentation on the technical details of the product (A Technical Guide to Karyomapping Calling). Karyomapping has been applied to 30,000 cases with no reported misdiagnoses (Schadwell et al, 2025) | C++, Python, pandas, Jupyter |
| Reproducible analysis framework | I developed a reproducible analysis framework for deploying containerised IDEs with custom environments on an internal HPC. This allowed key analyses to be repeated and adjusted for fundraising activities. | RStudio, Docker, conda, bash, slurm |
| VeriSeq NIPT v2 | I was reponsible for the delivery of a CE-IVD marked machine-learning software component. I implemented new features and bug-fixes following IEC62304 guidelines for software development. I provided scientific oversight of proposed algorithm updates and acted as interface between bioinformatics and software teams. The product was successfully CE-IVD approved and launched to customers. | Python, numpy, pandas, unit testing, mocking, CI/CD |
| Capsid selection | I designed and analysed a single-cell experiment using barcoded plasmids to screen capsids in the target cell-type. I developed a custom pipeline to extract barcode counts during analysis. This experiment resulted in the successful selection of a capsid for subsequent animal studies. | Single-cell RNAseq, R, SingleCellExperiment, Seurat, Snakemake, experimental design |
Work
2023-2025 Associate Director, Cell Informatics. Mogrify Ltd
2021-2023 Manager, Cell Informatics. Mogrify Ltd
2019-2021 Senior Manager, Bioinformatics. Illumina
2016-2019 Senior Bioinformatician. Illumina
2014-2016 Bioinformatics Scientist II. Illumina
2012-2014 Bioinformatics Scientist I. Illumina
2011-2012 EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow. University of Manchester
Education
2009-2012 PhD, Theoretical Physics. University of Manchester
2005-2009 MPhys, Physics with Theoretical Physics. University of Manchester
Publications
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Vera-Rodrı́guez et al. (2016). Distribution patterns of segmental aneuploidies in human blastocysts identified by next-generation sequencing. Fertility and Sterility, 105(4), 1047–1055.
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Natesan et al (2014). Genome-wide karyomapping accurately identifies the inheritance of single-gene defects in human preimplantation embryos in vitro. Genetics in Medicine, 16(11), 838–845.
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Bladon, A. J., Moro, E., & Galla, T. (2012). Agent-specific impact of single trades in financial markets. Physical Review E—Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 85(3), 036103.
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Bladon, A. J. (2011). The Statistical Mechanics of Collective Phenomena in Games and Markets. The University of Manchester (United Kingdom)
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Bladon, A. J., & Galla, T. (2011). Learning dynamics in public goods games. Physical Review E—Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 84(4), 041132.
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Bladon, A. J., Galla, T., & McKane, A. J. (2010). Evolutionary dynamics, intrinsic noise, and cycles of cooperation. Physical Review E—Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics, 81(6), 066122.
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Bladon, A., Richardson, T., & Galla, T. (2009). Spherical grand-canonical minority games with and without score discounting. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 42(9), 095007.