Mr. Tarig Mutasim Elhaj Ahmed
Research Assistant – Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit
Position
Research Assistant – Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Unit
Biography
Biography: Mr. Tarig Mutasim Elhaj Ahmed is a dedicated researcher specializing in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and laboratory diagnostics. He is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in Bioinformatics at the National University – Sudan. His academic background includes a B.Sc. in Biotechnology from Omdurman Islamic University and a qualifying year in Biomedical Science from the University of Khartoum. Mr. Tarig has hands-on experience in DNA and RNA extraction, conventional and real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and the molecular diagnosis of viral infections, including COVID-19, HBV, HCV, and HIV. He has played a key role in setting up and operating RT-PCR diagnostic laboratories across multiple states in Sudan, including Khartoum, Gadarif, Kassala, Rabak, and River Nile. In the field of bioinformatics, he is proficient in genomic data analysis, post-GWAS pipelines, and molecular diagnostics tools. He has experience working with Linux operating systems, developing and running bioinformatics workflows, and programming in Python and Java to support genomic research and diagnostic protocol development.
Research Interests
- Development of molecular and computational tools for disease diagnostics
- RT-PCR assay design for healthcare and public health use
- Laboratory quality assurance and process efficiency
- Public health virology and population genetics
Notable Achievements
- Supported national COVID-19 diagnostic efforts by establishing RT-PCR platforms in multiple states
- Developed and validated diagnostic protocols used in clinical and research settings
- Successfully installed and configured the Galaxy bioinformatics platform on a Linux-based server for the National University Biomedical Research Institute (NUBRI), including complete Linux server setup, tool integration, and optimization for high-throughput genomic data analysis.
- Successfully installed and configured AMBER molecular dynamics software on the NUBRI server, enabling advanced molecular modeling and simulation capabilities for computational drug discovery and structural biology research.
Collaborations
- Participated in H3ABioNet training programs (IBT & Post-GWAS)
- Attended virology workshops organized by the Robert Koch Institute
- Volunteered with the World Health Organization (WHO) in medical supply logistics and data entry