Javan Okendo, PhD
About Javan Okendo, PhD
Javan Okendo, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Translational and Functional Genomics Branch at the National Institutes of Health. He holds a PhD in Chemical and Systems Biology from the University of Cape Town and has extensive experience in bioinformatics and computational biology.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Javan Okendo serves as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Translational and Functional Genomics Branch at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has been with the NIH since 2022, contributing to research within the National Human Genome Research Institute. His work focuses on the application of genomics to public health, leveraging multiomic data to inform policy development.
Education and Expertise
Javan Okendo has a strong educational background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and bioinformatics. He earned his Bachelor of Applied Science from Kenyatta University, followed by a Master of Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Systems Biology from the University of Cape Town. Currently, he is studying Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology at the University of Basel, where he has been since 2019.
Professional Experience
Prior to his role at the NIH, Javan Okendo worked as a Computational Biologist at Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research in Switzerland from 2019 to 2021. He also held positions as a Bioinformatics Scientist at DIPLOMICS and as a Web Developer at H3ABioNet in South Africa. His diverse experience in bioinformatics and computational biology has equipped him with a broad skill set applicable to his current research.
Community Engagement and Capacity Building
Javan Okendo is actively involved in capacity building and community service as part of his professional activities. He engages with initiatives aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of individuals in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce in public health.