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manuel.lafond at USherbrooke.ca
+1 819-821-8000 ext. 62034
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.
I work on the design of algorithms in bioinformatics with a focus on phylogenetics and graph theory. My research includes theoretical and practical approches for the reconstruction and comparison of evolutionary scenarios. While I have worked on Darwinian trees for some time, I have recently gained interest in phylogenetic networks, which allow non-tree-like scenarios such as lateral gene transfer and hybridization - while also allowing me to apply graph theory to computational biology. I mainly develop algorithms for NP-hard problems, for example to compute edit distances between networks, using techniques from parameterized complexity and approximation algorithms.
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. Conversely, 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/
I work on the design of algorithms in bioinformatics with a focus on phylogenetics and graph theory. My research includes theoretical and practical approches for the reconstruction and comparison of evolutionary scenarios. While I have worked on Darwinian trees for some time, I have recently gained interest in phylogenetic networks, which allow non-tree-like scenarios such as lateral gene transfer and hybridization - while also allowing me to apply graph theory to computational biology. I mainly develop algorithms for NP-hard problems, for example to compute edit distances between networks, using techniques from parameterized complexity and approximation algorithms.
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. Conversely, 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:
- Lafond, Manuel. "Recognizing k-leaf powers in polynomial time, for constant k.", SODA 2022.
- Lafond, Manuel, Binhai Zhu, and Peng Zou. "Computing the Tandem Duplication Distance is NP-Hard.", SIAM Journal on Discrete Mathematics (2022).
- Sanchez, Alitzel Lopez, and Manuel Lafond. "Colorful orthology clustering in bounded-degree similarity graphs." Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (2021)
- Lafond, Manuel, Mona Meghdari Miardan, and David Sankoff. "Accurate prediction of orthologs in the presence of divergence after duplication.", Bioinformatics (2018).
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 |
| 2016 | Mitacs Globalink Campus France Award (for a 5 months collaboration with Dr. Celine Scornavacca) |
| 2015 | Hydro-Québec Excellence Award |
| 2014 | DIRO Excellence Award (University of Montreal) |
| 2014-2016 | FRQNT Doctoral Scholarship |
| 2012-2013 | FRQNT Masters Scholarship |