Rafael Guerrero

Rafael Guerrero is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University (NCSU), affiliated with the Bioinformatics Research Center. His research focuses on computational and mathematical modeling in population genetics, with applications to understanding genetic variation, evolutionary forces, and reproductive biology. He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin (2013).

Dr. Guerrero’s expertise spans computational evolutionary genetics, integrating data analysis and modeling to study mechanisms underlying genetic diversity. His work addresses topics such as sexual conflict in cichlids, sex determination in plants, and genetic associations with pregnancy outcomes. He collaborates widely, particularly in maternal-fetal genomics and antimicrobial resistance.

His lab at NCSU explores interdisciplinary approaches, combining bioinformatics with ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Recent research highlights include investigations into recombination dynamics in domesticated species and the genetic basis of disease resistance in crops. The lab is also involved in tools like GnuMoM2b for genetic association studies in pregnancy traits.

Publications since 2021 reflect a focus on genetic prediction models for maternal health outcomes, evolutionary druggability, and plant disease resistance. Despite the breadth of topics, a common thread is leveraging computational methods to dissect complex genetic systems.

Dr. Guerrero is affiliated with NCSU’s Bioinformatics, Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, and Functional Genomics programs. His lab is located in Thomas Hall, and he actively mentors students in these areas.