Sarovich Derek S

I am a mid-career molecular microbiologist and bioinformaticist whose research strengths are in antibiotic resistance, bacterial pathogenesis, molecular epidemiology, genomics and transcriptomics. My primary research outcomes have been in the application of next-generation sequencing technologies in the clinical realm, with a focus on improved treatment and diagnostics of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, particularly those with high morbidity and mortality. I have researched several bacterial pathogens throughout my career including the bioweapon threat agents Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis), Yersinia pestis (bubonic plague) and Bacillus anthracis (anthrax), and the medically important species Haemophilus influenzae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii. As reflected in my track record, I am an outcome-orientated researcher, with both my publication and grant success on an upward trajectory. To date, I have published >80 peer-reviewed manuscripts, ~40% as first or senior (h-index = 28; i-10 index=58). I have published in several high impact, peer-reviewed journals including Nature Communications, mBio, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Journal of Clinical Microbiology and PLoS Pathogens. I have a growing track record as a chief investigator (CI) on Australian competitive grants, with over $3.5M of funding as a CI and $150K as a named investigator. To date, I have also attracted $14K in international funds. In 2013, I was awarded an NHMRC Project Grant Excellence Award with the Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) melioidosis team. This grant scored a Category 7, the highest possible score and one of only three awarded Australia-wide. In addition to being a passionate scientist, I am an active software developer who enjoys creating open-source software (e.g. SPANDx) to simplify difficult bioinformatic analyses. I regularly run formal and informal workshops on the application of next-generation sequencing technologies and bioinformatics for staff, students and visiting scientists. In 2013, I spearheaded the design and acquisition of a high-performance computing (HPC) facility at CDU and Menzies, the first and still the largest research HPC in northern Australia.