Irving Barrera
About Irving Barrera
Irving Barrera is a Research Associate II at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, with a background in medicine and biochemistry. He has experience in various research roles, focusing on spatial transcriptomics and gene expression analysis, and is currently an MD candidate at Harvard Medical School.
Current Role at Broad Institute
Irving Barrera serves as a Research Associate II at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, a position he has held since 2022. In this role, he engages in advanced research projects, particularly focusing on spatial gene expression analysis of the tumor microenvironment. His work contributes to the understanding of complex biological systems and the development of innovative technologies in the field of genomics.
Previous Experience at Earlham College
Prior to his current position, Irving Barrera worked at Earlham College in various capacities. He served as an Undergraduate Researcher in both the Smith Group and Scerbak Group, where he focused on research related to neurological disorders and spatial transcriptomics. Additionally, he held roles as a Teaching Assistant and Resident Assistant, and he was an Elected Student Senator and Committee Member, contributing to the academic community from 2017 to 2020.
Education and Training
Irving Barrera is currently pursuing his MD at Harvard Medical School, with an expected graduation in 2027. He previously earned a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from Earlham College, where he studied from 2016 to 2020. His educational background also includes completing the International Baccalaureate program at UWC-USA from 2014 to 2016, which provided a strong foundation for his future studies in medicine and research.
Research Contributions
Irving Barrera has made significant contributions to various research projects throughout his career. He has participated in studies focused on spatial gene expression in the gastrointestinal tract and the immune response to COVID-19 in human lungs. He was also involved in the development of Slide-seq and Slidelock-seq technologies, which are pivotal for advancing spatial transcriptomics and enhancing the understanding of gene expression patterns.
Internships and Early Experience
Irving gained valuable experience through internships at notable institutions. He worked as a Summer Intern at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, Germany, and participated in the University of Tokyo Summer Internship Program in Japan. These experiences, along with his externship at the Wayne County Health Department, helped him build a diverse skill set in research and healthcare.