Harm Jan Westra

Harm Jan Westra is a computational geneticist with a PhD in Genetics from the University of Groningen. His career includes research fellow positions at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Broad Institute, and Harvard Medical School from 2014 to 2017. He specializes in functional genomics and systems biology, focusing on mechanisms linking genetic variation to complex diseases.

• Education: PhD in Genetics (University of Groningen, 2014)

His research spans genome-wide association studies (GWAS), epigenetics, and microbiome interactions. He develops computational frameworks to connect rare disease genes to common pathologies through tissue-specific networks and investigates DNA methylation pathways in metabolic regulation. Collaborative work includes autoimmune disease mechanisms via T peripheral helper cell biology.

Key contributions include integrating multi-omics data to identify age-related genes, obesity-associated systems genetics models, and microbiome-host epigenetic interactions. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

• Scientific Awards:
  • PhD in Genetics (University of Groningen, 2014)