Dr Daniel Pass

Compass Bioinformatics is managed and ran by myself – Dr Daniel Pass – with additional training and analysis performed by trusted expert colleagues. Formerly a full time lecturer and researcher of Bioinformatics at Cardiff University, I took the post-pandemic decision to step away from grant-chasing, formal schedules (and the REF!) to focus on the parts of science I love the most, while also giving myself space to grow the community projects I built during the pandemic.

Since 2012 I have taught masters bioinformatics courses as a lecturer at Cardiff University, and external courses directly to researchers with the Wellcome Trust, NERC, and Physalia courses.

I started out in bioinformatics building transcriptome databases from Sanger Sequencing (remember that?) in 2009, I later did my PhD on environmental microbiomics, followed by postdoctoral research on chromatin structure and Transcription Factor dynamics.

My academic research revolved around integrating *omic technologies to further understand genetic control, post-translational modification, and epigenetics, looking at the role of the microbiome on host transcription as a model. This integrated a wide range of RNAseq, DNA accessibility, CHIPseq, and microbiomics.

Along the way this has lead to a lot of experience working with High Performance Compute clusters and the cloud, and the linux environment in general. I mostly programme in python and R, and pipeline with Nextflow workflows. Whilst being now exclusively concerned with bioinformatic analysis, I also have extensive experience in the wet-lab from my PhD days, a skill which greatly aids communication with scientists without bioinformatic experience.

Outside of work I enjoy sci-fi epics, DIY, run a community food co-operative called Splo-down, and dream of one day running a coffee shop.

Compass

At Compass Bioinformatics we aim to bring internationally recognised bioinformatic quality to you with a personal connection. None of the data-goes-in -> spreadsheets-come-out that is common from some bioinformatic service providers which often leaves you without understanding or explanation. We want to discuss your needs and make sure you’re happy with the results along the way and at the end, whether this is data analysis, project planning, or bespoke training courses.

Primarily all projects are analysed and training provided by Dr Daniel Pass however no one person is an expert on all fields. At Compass Bioinformatics we cultivate a close group of trusted expert bioinformaticians who may be more suitable to any specific project and we can discuss the best way forward if your project has specific bespoke requirements.

Based in Cardiff, United Kingdom, we are happy to talk and work with researchers globally either through online video-call or email, or in person locally or internationally (particularly if you wanted to hire for local courses).

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with anything you’d like to discuss!