Daniel A Russell

Daniel Russell is a Research Instructor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, specializing in bacteriophage genomics and bioinformatics. He leads genome sequencing and annotation efforts for mycobacteriophages, utilizing Sanger, Illumina, and in-house MiSeq platforms. Russell develops computational resources to support global phage research communities.

Research Infrastructure: Created and maintains PhagesDB.org, a central repository for phage genomic data, and seaphages.org for the SEA-PHAGES undergraduate research program. These platforms enable data sharing across 100+ institutions and support educational outreach.

Investigates phage diversity and evolution through comparative genomics, particularly in Actinobacteria hosts. Recent work focuses on therapeutic applications against Mycobacterium abscessus, including phage engineering and combination therapies. Publications establish genomic frameworks for phage classification and host interaction mechanisms.

Collaborates extensively with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute on curriculum development, enabling thousands of students to participate in authentic phage discovery through course-based research experiences.