Nomadic bioinformatics: Frank Ambrosio on working remotely
Frank Ambrosio joins Lee Katz, Andrew Page and Nabil-Fareed Alikhan to discuss his transition from laboratory microbiology at CDC to bioinformatics with Theiagen, and his plans to work while travelling. He explains how cloud-based development, backup connectivity and deliberate scheduling support that lifestyle. The conversation also examines whether remote work can sustain mentoring, personal connections and effective collaboration across public health laboratories.
Listen to Episode 98: Nomadic bioinformatics with Frank on SoundCloud
In this episode
From the wet bench to bioinformatics
Frank first encountered large-scale bioinformatics in CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination. Working as a laboratory technician and microbiologist, he was learning to sequence with a Nanopore device. Initially he handed data to bioinformaticians, but their encouragement led him to start analysing it himself on an available Linux computer. With his supervisor’s support, he undertook a master’s programme in bioinformatics at Georgia Tech while continuing to work at CDC.
His subsequent roles included biodefence research and development, where he developed BSL-2 microbiology skills, and a strep laboratory sequencing tens of thousands of isolates a year. That exposed him to surveillance-oriented production work as well as E-strips and MIC testing. He later became a direct CDC hire in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. He explains that FTE, as used in this conversation, means full-time employee rather than contractor.
Career entry and a portable development environment
For early-career scientists interested in CDC, Frank recommends applying through contracting agencies rather than concentrating only on direct-hire positions. He says job advertisements may not make the CDC connection obvious, and some groups are composed entirely of contractors. His advice is to pursue relevant work and experience rather than treating FTE status as the immediate goal.
His technical advice has also changed. Previously, he would have recommended buying a powerful MacBook Pro and learning its terminal. After working at Theiagen, he favours a Google Cloud virtual machine connected to VS Code. Losing script edits when a laptop battery died prompted him to look for more reliable working arrangements. He values the ease of pushing commits to GitHub and recommends considering this setup before becoming settled in another development environment.
International sequencing and the move to Theiagen
During CDC’s COVID response, Frank worked on an international sequencing capacity dashboard. Seeing where sequencers were distributed, and realising that laboratories focused on one pathogen might not be doing all the sequencing they could, strengthened his interest in international bioinformatics. A later technical-assistance role brought him into contact with state laboratories using Terra.bio, developed by the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
Terra appealed to him as a graphical interface for open-source bioinformatics pipelines. Discussions with Theiagen introduced him to Docker containers and their use in connecting tools that otherwise struggled to work together. He contrasts that approach with his own experience of installing 15 versions of a tool to resolve dependencies. Developing public health workflows that laboratories could run through a web interface was the work he wanted to do, leading him to join Theiagen.
Travelling without taking time off
Frank’s plan is to sell possessions he no longer needs, store others in Atlanta and move between Airbnbs. Van life interests him, but he wants to travel beyond land-connected regions. The attraction is not simply working somewhere different: after seven weeks of remote collaboration with colleagues in Mozambique, he felt they bonded more during one week together in person.
His first working trip with Theiagen was to New York during his first week in the job. A single-room Airbnb, his laptop and accessories were enough to hold meetings without taking time off. He also worked from local cafés and a pizza place. He stresses redundancy: alongside local Wi-Fi, he had hotspots on work and personal phones. For calls, he keeps headphones, earbuds and a microphone available, both as alternatives when equipment fails and to vary what he wears during long stretches of Zoom meetings.
Routines, social contact and remote mentoring
Rather than preserving one permanent routine, Frank uses Google Calendar to fit work, food, time outside and social contact into changing locations. Living alone during lockdown had been difficult, and he sees travel as a way to increase contact rather than lose it. He schedules informal conversations with friends and colleagues, explaining that these meetings have no agenda and can be declined or rearranged.
For mentoring, his approach is to find a shared project with regular milestones. He describes working with a collaborator at the Nevada State Public Health Lab on a Candida outbreak, despite living about 2,500 miles apart. Weekly meetings made it a particularly rewarding mentor–mentee relationship. At the time of the conversation, they had not met in person and planned to do so at ASM NGS. Conferences, in his account, complement relationships already built through remote work.
A team model rather than a lone freelancer
Asked whether bioinformatics is moving towards an agency-style working model, Frank emphasises the team behind him: bioinformatics scientists, genomic epidemiologists and project coordinators. He describes Theiagen’s approach as practitioner-led research and development, with collaborators’ needs directing development. Work requested by one laboratory can then benefit others.
He contrasts this with a single bioinformatician developing analyses in isolation. Involving genomic epidemiologists throughout development avoids leaving interpretation until the pipeline is finished. Looking five years ahead, Frank says he has no intention of leaving Theiagen and anticipates a more supervisory or management role. His immediate priority remains building international public health connections and helping groups learn the cloud-based and Docker-based technologies his team uses.
Highlights
- 00:01:31 — Frank’s CDC laboratory roles and transition into analysing sequencing data
- 00:05:18 — Applying through contracting agencies as a route into CDC work
- 00:06:26 — Choosing a development environment: laptops, Google Cloud VMs and VS Code
- 00:08:31 — International sequencing capacity work, Terra.bio and the move to Theiagen
- 00:13:02 — From improving a home office to meeting public health collaborators in person
- 00:15:18 — Using Google Calendar instead of relying on a permanent travel routine
- 00:16:45 — Van life versus Airbnbs, followed by practical lessons from working in New York
- 00:20:38 — Lockdown isolation, intentional check-ins and visiting family
- 00:24:52 — A long-standing ambition for location-independent work and the influence of laboratory automation
- 00:33:28 — Maintaining mentoring relationships through shared projects and weekly meetings
- 00:36:42 — Team-based, practitioner-led development for public health laboratories
- 00:40:47 — Frank’s five-year outlook at Theiagen and plans for international collaboration
In their own words
I don’t need to worry about what I’m doing that day because my calendar will tell me.
— Frank Ambrosio, 00:15:18
And for me, forming relationships is much easier if we have a common goal and something to work on every week and milestones to achieve.
— Frank Ambrosio, 00:33:28
Who is talking
- Frank Ambrosio (guest, Theiagen)
- Lee Katz (host)
- Andrew Page (host)
- Nabil-Fareed Alikhan (host)
Tools and resources mentioned
Nanopore device, MacBook Pro, Google Cloud, VS Code, GitHub, Vim, Terra.bio, Docker, Google Calendar, Zoom.
Questions this episode answers
How did Frank Ambrosio move from laboratory microbiology into bioinformatics?
While sequencing in CDC’s Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Frank became interested in analysing his own data. The bioinformaticians he worked with encouraged him to do the analyses himself, which he began on an old Linux computer in the division, and he later completed a master’s programme in bioinformatics at Georgia Tech while working at CDC.
What development setup does Frank recommend for learning bioinformatics?
He recommends becoming familiar with a Google Cloud virtual machine connected to VS Code. He highlights the convenience of GitHub commits and contrasts this with his earlier advice to buy a powerful MacBook Pro and focus on its terminal.
How does Frank maintain connectivity while working and travelling?
He combines local Wi-Fi with backup hotspots on work and personal phones rather than relying on one connection. He also carries several audio options for calls: headphones, earbuds and a microphone.
Can remote bioinformatics work support mentoring?
Frank’s approach is to maintain relationships through shared projects, weekly meetings and milestones. He describes a rewarding remote collaboration on a Candida outbreak with a colleague at the Nevada State Public Health Lab, with their first in-person meeting planned for ASM NGS.
This page was written from a machine transcript of the episode and checked against it. Listen to the episode for the whole conversation.
Show notes
We interview Frank Ambrosio. He is embarking on a lifestyle of nomadic bioinformatics, living his best life.
In this episode of the MicroBinfie podcast, Frank Ambrosio, a bioinformatician working for Theiagen as a traveling bioinformatician, joins co-hosts Andrew Nabil and Lee to talk about his journey into bioinformatics.
Frank shares how he transitioned from being a lab technician and microbiologist to analyzing his own data and pursuing a master’s program in bioinformatics at Georgia Tech. He also discusses his experience working at the CDC, where he gained exposure to different laboratories working on tuberculosis, biodefense research and development, surveillance-oriented production laboratories for strep genomes, and the division of HIV/AIDS prevention.
Frank gives tips for aspiring bioinformaticians, recommending that early career scientists focus on applying for contracting agencies at the CDC to gain valuable experience and eventually become full-time employees. He also suggests starting with a virtual machine and a cloud-based IDE like Google Cloud and VS Code for ease of use and reliability.
The conversation then moves onto Frank’s nomadic lifestyle as a traveling bioinformatician, and his desire to connect with the public health community worldwide. Frank shares his recent experience meeting collaborators in Mozambique and the importance of building personal connections with colleagues in public health for collaboration and support.
Frank concludes by discussing his approach to routines while traveling and how he uses his Google calendar to plan out his days and weeks. He emphasizes the importance of flexibility and adaptability as a traveling bioinformatician, and his eagerness to continue meeting new people and building connections in the public health community.
Moving on to Frank’s lifestyle as a digital nomad bioinformatician, he explains how he enjoys enhanced flexibility, better quality of life, and the ability to work anywhere in the world. However, he also highlights that this lifestyle model could be challenging, particularly for those who prefer greater stability and predictability.
Nabil wonders how possible it would be for bioinformaticians to engage in mentoring and education while working as digital nomads. Frank acknowledges the concerns but highlights that he has been fortunate enough to maintain his mentor relationships remotely. He talks about how working with someone on a project can facilitate a stronger and more rewarding mentor-mentee relationship.
The hosts note that flexibility is not new to bioinformatics and that technological advancement is making it easier to find intelligent people worldwide to join in the missions of organizations like the CDC. Frank reflects on his future, reserving the potential to remain with his current institution, Theiagen. He remains optimistic about the potential of these digital collaborations and is open to new opportunities to help the global bioinformatics community.