Timothy D. O'Connor

Timothy D. O'Connor is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, serving as Co-Director for the Program in Health Equity and Population Health (HEPH). His research focuses on the evolutionary and population genetic influences on disease and phenotypic diversity, integrating evolutionary theory with large genomic datasets. He leads the O’Connor Evolutionary Genomics Group, emphasizing collaboration and multi-omics approaches.

Education:

• B.S. Bioinformatics, Brigham Young University (2001-2007)
• Ph.D. Evolutionary Genetics, University of Cambridge (2007-2011), supported by the Gates Cambridge Scholarship
• Senior Research Fellow, University of Washington (2010-2013)

Research Interests: Dr. O’Connor’s work spans human evolutionary genetics, computational biology, and genetic epidemiology. His lab develops novel algorithms to analyze large genomic datasets, with a focus on New World populations, including studies of Peruvian genomic dynamics, malaria parasite migration, and the evolutionary origins of phenotypic diversity. He emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and the application of evolutionary principles to modern biomedical challenges.

Grants & Awards:

• NIH/NIAID R01 (2020-2025): $499,998 for malaria genomic migration studies in Cambodia/Thailand
• NIH/NIGMS R35 (2019-2024): $299,713 for evolutionary multi-omics research
• 2021 Faculty Mentoring Award
• 2019 Teacher of the Year Award

Labs & Collaborations: His lab is part of the TOPMed Program, co-leading the Population Genetics Working Group. He also collaborates on projects like the Peruvian Genome Project and the Gynecological Cancer Center of Excellence. His work bridges academia and clinical practice, addressing disparities in genomic medicine through initiatives like the PENGUIN model for patient engagement.