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Manuel Lafond
Google Scholar page
manuel.lafond at USherbrooke.ca
+1 819-821-8000 ext. 62034
That picture is getting old. If you must know how I am aging, see this picture, or this picture.
I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Université de Sherbrooke and a member of the GRIF - the Research group on fundamental computer science of UdeS.

My main area of research is algorithms for bioinformatics, with an emphasis on the theoretical aspects of problems that arise in computational biology. I am especially interested in the development of models and algorithms for evolution that can be applied to reconstruct phylogenies, to infer important evolutionary events such as gene duplication or horizontal gene transfer, and to predict orthologous/paralogous genes.
I am also an avid follower (and occasional contributor) of the theory of algorithms, and I enjoy applying the latest developments in parameterized and approximation algorithms to practical problems in computational biology. In fact, while bioinformatics is often seen as computer science to the service of biology, I believe that the converse also holds, i.e. that biology can assist the development of algorithms. There are several biologically motivated problems that led to the development of novel techniques in algorithms, and there is more to be discovered with continued interactions between the fields.

Prior to my current position, I was an NSERC postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa with David Sankoff (2016-2018) and I obtained my PhD at the University of Montreal with Nadia El-Mabrouk (2012-2016).

Some representative publications:

On a completely unrelated and unsollicited note, study shows that coding with generative AI has no significant impact on productivity, but has a +41% bug rate: https://devops.com/study-finds-no-devops-productivity-gains-from-generative-ai/

CV Summary
Last update : September 2023 (which is hopefully not too far in the past)
Positions
2023-... Associate Professor, Université de Sherbrooke
2018-2023 Assistant Professor, Université de Sherbrooke
2016-2018 Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Ottawa (with Dr. David Sankoff)
Education
2012-2016 PhD in Computer Science, University of Montreal. Advisor: Nadia El-Mabrouk
Thesis ranked Exceptional, on the Dean's list of honor, 4.3/4.3 GPA
2011-2012 MSc in Computer Science, University of Montreal. (fast-track to PhD)
2005-2010 BSc in Computer Science and Software Engineering (internship program), UQAM.
Committee Participation and Reviewing
- PC Member of WABI 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
- PC Member of ISMB 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- PC Member of RECOMB-CG 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
- PC Member of IWOCA 2023
- PC Member of APBC 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019
- PC Member of ISBRA 2023, 2022
- PC Member of SOFSEM 2020, 2019 (computational biology session, upcoming)
- PC Member of ICCABS 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017
- Organizing Committee of RECOMB-CG 2018
- Organizing Committee of RECOMB-CG 2016
Awards and Financing
2022-2025 NOVA - FRQNT-NSERC PROGRAM for junior researchers
Novel Metrics for the Comparison of Phylogenetic Networks, $225K
2019-2025 NSERC - Discovery
Accurate prediction and classication of orthologs, $255K
2022-2023 NSERC - Alliance Catalyst International
A Bioinformatics Framework to Understand the Fate of Duplicated Genes, $25K
2021-2023 FRQS - financements de la recherche intersectorielle sur le Vieillissement
Analyse de réseaux pour resserrer le filet social autour des personnes âgées, $86K
2021-2022 FRQNT - Research support for new academics
Reconciliation between gene and species trees in the era of phylogenomics, $60K
2016-2018 NSERC Postdoctoral Scholarship
2016Mitacs Globalink Campus France Award (for a 5 months collaboration with Dr. Celine Scornavacca)
2015Hydro-Québec Excellence Award
2014DIRO Excellence Award (University of Montreal)
2014-2016FRQNT Doctoral Scholarship
2012-2013FRQNT Masters Scholarship