Adrian Baez-Ortega

Dr. Adrian Baez-Ortega is a computational biologist and Royal Society University Research Fellow based in the Departments of Zoology and Genetics at the University of Cambridge. His research focuses on transmissible cancers in animals, particularly marine bivalves, and he leads the Bivalve Transmissible Neoplasia Group with funding from the Royal Society and the European Research Council.

• Education:
  • Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Computer Science, University of La Laguna (Spain)
  • PhD in Biological Sciences, University of Cambridge

Adrian’s research spans transmissible cancer, somatic evolution, and comparative genomics, with significant contributions to understanding cancer dynamics in bivalves and Tasmanian devils. His work has been featured in Nature Cancer and major media outlets like The New York Times.

His recent genomic studies on transmissible cancers in marine cockles involved international collaborations and fieldwork across 11 countries. Adrian also develops computational tools, including the sigfit Bayesian mutational signature model, and contributes to scientific outreach through workshops and public engagement.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Harold M Weintraub Graduate Student Award
  • Science & SciLifeLab Prize for Young Scientists

Adrian holds a Senior Research Fellowship at Magdalene College, Cambridge, and his interdisciplinary approach bridges bioinformatics, cancer biology, and evolutionary genetics. He actively mentors early-career researchers and supervises PhD students.