Aswini Leela

Dr. Aswini Leela is a Research Fellow at Monash University Malaysia's School of Science, specializing in genomics and bioinformatics. She holds a PhD and MSc in Biotechnology from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (2019 and 2015), and a BSc in Biomedical Sciences from Management and Science University (2012). Her work bridges conservation genomics with clinical research, including projects under the Vertebrate Genome Project and Earth BioGenome Project. She mentors students in bioinformatics and teaches units BIN3800 and BIN3890, focusing on computational genomics and big data analysis.

• Education: PhD (Biotechnology, 2019), MSc (Biotechnology, 2015), BSc (Biomedical Sciences, 2012)

Her research interests include population genetics, molecular diagnostics, and high-throughput sequencing technologies. She develops bioinformatics pipelines for genome assembly and analysis, supporting conservation efforts for endangered species like turtles and hornbills. Her clinical work includes congenital cardiomyopathy genomics and Y-chromosomal diversity studies with international collaborators.

Recent projects include genomics assessments of Malayan tigers and helmeted hornbills. She received the Research Platforms Excellence Award (2023) and actively participates in workshops like the Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics conference. She also provides wet-lab expertise in DNA extraction and sequencing using PacBio and Nanopore platforms.