Hamza Mbareche

Hamza Mbareche is a researcher, trainer and consultant who functions at the intersection of microbial occupational exposure, genomics, and public health. He uses cutting-edge technologies to increase the environmental safety of workplaces and public spaces. Hamza ranks in the top 0.25% of Air Microbiology experts worldwide according to Expertscape.

He specializes in environmental health through his postdoctoral research of airborne microorganisms, the microbiome, genomics and bioinformatics. His expertise encompasses whole-genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 from patient swabs and environmental samples, the Whole Genome Sequencing of Influenza A virus in bioaerosols collected from swine barns, and the detection and sequencing of Orthobunyaviruses from mosquitoes in Southern Ontario.

The foundation for all of this was created from his graduate research of High-Throughput Sequencing technologies to describe the microbial diversity of fungi and bacteria in the air of different environments and in the context of occupational exposure.

He codes and analyzes data using R and Python in order to generate personalized bioinformatics scripts. The use of cutting-edge bioinformatics tools allows for more expedient and thorough data analyses.

Hamza Mbareche believes in collaboration and building collective knowledge in the field of science. With this in mind, he has designed and delivered training about sequencing to diverse audiences, including undergraduate and graduate students and hospital staff. He has been the subject matter expert at speaking engagements regarding Next-Generation Sequencing and bioinformatics, and has built a High-Throughput Sequencing and Bioinformatics for Microbial Studies workshop in Professor Caroline Duchaine’s laboratory. Additionally, Hamza spent three years as a graduate teaching assistant in two microbiology labs at Université Laval: Technique de microbiologie and Isolement et culture des microorganisms.

Hamza authored 30 articles for peer-reviewed scientific publications. Among his notable contributions is an article about airborne viral transmission in a simulated Intensive Care Unit room published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. As an expert in the field, he has reviewed 38 publications for 25 peer-reviewed journals, primarily regarding Next-Generation Sequencing studies. He also wrote a chapter in the Encyclopedia of Mycology book about Next-Generation Sequencing in environmental mycology.