Michael Shamash

Sequencing & Bioinformatics Lead at Qeen Biotechnologies

Bioinformatician building the sequencing and genomics platform behind phage therapy at Qeen Biotechnologies — with a research background spanning bacteriophages, the gut microbiome, and viral metagenomics.

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Michael Shamash

About

I'm a bioinformatician completing a Ph.D. in Microbiology & Immunology at McGill University, where I study the active role of bacteriophages in the developing infant gut microbiome. My research spans anaerobic microbiology, viral metagenomics, and the scalable bioinformatics needed to make sense of it all.

Today, as Sequencing & Bioinformatics Lead at Qeen Biotechnologies, I'm leading the design and implementation of a dedicated genomics platform — establishing in-house sequencing capability and cloud computational infrastructure to support phage therapy clinical trials and product quality control.

Along the way I built OnePetri, a computer-vision mobile app that accelerates common bacteriophage plaque assays, and I'm a passionate teacher who has trained hundreds of students in sequencing and bioinformatics.

  • Sequencing & bioinformatics platforms

    Building in-house sequencing capability, cloud infrastructure, and scalable analysis pipelines.

  • Bacteriophage genomics

    Phage characterization and phage–host analysis to support phage therapy.

  • Metagenomics & the microbiome

    Extensive research experience in the gut microbiome and viral metagenomics, from sample prep to community-level analysis.

Experience & Education

Experience

  1. 2026 — Present · Gatineau, Canada

    Sequencing & Bioinformatics Lead

    Qeen Biotechnologies

    Building an in-house genomics platform — sequencing and cloud infrastructure supporting phage therapy clinical trials and product QC.

  2. 2022 — 2023 · Montreal, Canada

    Bioinformatics Workshop Instructor & Coordinator

    McGill University

    Developed and instructed hands-on Illumina & Oxford Nanopore sequencing workshops; guided 60+ undergraduates through DNA extraction, library prep, assembly and analysis. Recognized with departmental and faculty teaching awards for innovative teaching.

  3. 2020 — 2024 · Montreal, Canada

    Teaching Assistant

    McGill University

    Instructed 100+ undergraduate students across bioinformatics and bacteriophage-discovery lab courses, translating technical concepts for a range of backgrounds. Recognized with a departmental teaching assistant award.

Education

  1. 2020 — 2026 · Montreal, Canada

    Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology

    McGill University

  2. 2017 — 2020 · Montreal, Canada

    B.Sc. (Honours), Microbiology & Immunology

    McGill University

Publications

Google Scholar

9 peer-reviewed articles, reviews, and reports.

Awards & Scholarships

A selection of fellowships, scholarships, and recognitions.

  • Doctoral Research Award — Canada Graduate Scholarship to Honour Nelson Mandela (CGS-D)

    2023–2026

    Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  • DIALOGUE Grant

    2023

    Fonds de Recherche du Québec

    Science communication grant funding hands-on sequencing and bioinformatics workshops for undergraduate students.

  • Gairdner Quebec Science Programs Grant

    2023

    Gairdner Foundation & FRQS

    Science communication grant funding hands-on sequencing and bioinformatics workshops for undergraduate students.

  • Doctoral Training Scholarship

    2022–2026

    FRQS — Fonds de Recherche du Québec: Santé

  • Doctoral Research Scholarship

    2022–2026

    FRQNT — Fonds de recherche du Québec: Nature et technologies

  • Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship — Master’s (CGS-M)

    2020–2021

    NSERC

  • Master’s Research Scholarship

    2020–2022

    FRQNT — Fonds de recherche du Québec: Nature et technologies

Get in touch

Email me