Daniel Nasko

Daniel Nasko is an assistant research scientist and a member of the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB).

His research interests are deeply rooted in bioinformatics, typically focusing on developing algorithms and strategies for understanding the genetic diversity and interactions of microbial communities (bacteria, viruses) using shotgun metagenomics.

While at UMD, he has helped develop complex workflows that identify the taxonomic origin, function and threat potential of unknown DNA segments.

Additionally in collaboration with the School of Public Health, Nasko has worked to characterize and compare influenza A populations from infected students on campus.

He is the recipient of the Rita Colwell travel fellowship award (2018), the University of Delaware dissertation fellowship award (2017), and the International Society for Microbial Ecology travel fellowship award (2016).

Nasko received his doctorate in bioinformatics and systems biology from the University of Delaware in 2017.

While at Delaware, he helped to develop novel strategies for studying the diversity and ecology of viruses in a variety of environments. Using a combination of long (PacBio) and deep (Illumina) DNA sequencing technologies, he and his collaborators were able to explore gene associations of environmental phage (e.g. DNA polymerase, ribonucleotide reductase).

Additionally, they linked CRISPR spacers from microbial populations with viral metagenomes, allowing the genetic algorithm of natural selection to identify viral gene classes that are frequently targeted by the defense system.

From 2017-2018, Nasko was a postdoctoral researcher at UMD working with former UMD assistant research scientist Todd Treangen on an IARPA-funded project to classify the threat potential of unknown DNA sequences.

Go here to view Nasko’s academic publications on Google Scholar.