Q&A with Paulo Manrique (G4, Neafsey Lab)
Where are you from and what do you enjoy most about your hometown?
I hail from Lima, Peru—South America’s gastronomic capital. Peru offers a rich combination of cultural, geographical, and natural diversity. Every weekend is a new adventure, and my wife, our two dogs, and I can always discover something fresh to explore or savor.
What is your research focused on?
My research focuses on Plasmodium vivax, a parasite causing malaria. Since 2015, Latin America and the Caribbean have seen increased infections, coinciding with the regional human migration crisis. Using targeted molecular tools, I aim to determine if this rise is due to new introduced parasites from human movement or resilience of local populations. This information will help adapt control measures and understand factors influencing the parasite’s spread in this region.
What is your favorite part of your research?
The aspect of my work that I find most enjoyable and captivating is learning and developing algorithms for genetic data analysis. This has evolved from a professional pursuit into a personal passion. As a result, I’ve had the opportunity to serve as an instructor in workshops organized by our group to our local collaborators in endemic settings. In these sessions, we teach them these analytical tools and guide them on how to leverage this information for informed decision-making.
How do you relax when you’re not working?
Taking long walks with my wife and playing with our dogs is my favorite activity—so much so that I’ve bought a robot to play with my dogs remotely while I’m at work. My second hobby is solving puzzle boxes, intricate containers that only open after cracking their built-in riddles. This keeps me entertained during the downtime while my code crunches data.
Tell us about an activity outside of the lab you’re involved in and why it’s important to you
A significant challenge in utilizing molecular tools for public health decision-making is data analysis. To address this, I’ve been developing user-friendly software for individuals without programming expertise. I’ve also created tutorials for these tools and led workshops for collaborators across Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Venezuela, and some African countries.
