Our July MCDB Alumni Spotlight is highlighting Dr. Iftekhar Showpnil! Dr. Showpnil is a Bioinformatics Analyst at Nationwide Children's Hospital. He graduated from MCDB in 2022.

We asked Dr. Showpnil some questions about his experience as an MCDB student, as well as his career since graduating from the program.

• Can you briefly describe your current role and the path that led you there after graduating from the MCDB program?
  I oversee genomic analysis for a couple of translational research protocols at the Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM) at Nationwide Children's Hospital (NCH). We primarily work with multi-omics data from undiagnosed individuals with rare genetic disorders. By the time graduation came around, I already had a young family, and we wanted to stay in the Columbus area. I contacted several hiring managers and PIs within NCH for open roles a few months prior to graduation and ended up joining IGM shortly after.
   
• What is one memorable or favorite moment that you have from your time at OSU or in the MCDB program?
  At OSU, I enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and making some great friends along the way.
   
• If you could approach your time in the program differently, what would you change?
  Grad programs are well designed to provide students with the training and skills necessary to succeed. At the same time, it can be easy for someone immersed in research to become highly analytical and lose sight of empathy. I would probably invest more time and energy in friendships and relationships that matter most and be intentional about showing up for people at every opportunity.
   
• What skills (technical or non-technical) did you gain during your PhD that you use regularly today?
  This is not unique to graduate school, but the most important skill to me is the ability to treat people with the same level of respect that you would expect from others.
   
• Are there any specific accomplishments that you're proud of since graduating that you would like to highlight?
  I am very thankful for our community that grew out of my time at OSU and beyond. Grateful for my friends and family every day.
   
• Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?
  Reading to my kids, exploring metro parks. 
   
• Is there anywhere online where students can learn more about your work or connect with you?
  Absolutely. I am always happy to connect with students, alumni, and anyone else looking to expand their network. I am not active on most social media platforms, but you can reach out to me on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/iftekharshowpnil) or via email (shopnil99@gmail.com).