Alexander Lucaci

About Alexander Lucaci

I am a computational evolutionary biologist focused on understanding how microbes, and host–microbe systems evolve across scales. My work combines phylogenetics, molecular evolution, and large-scale microbiome data integration to study the mechanisms that shape microbial dynamics.As a Postdoctoral Associate in the Mason Lab at Weill Cornell Medicine, I work on a number of studies involving the global virome, with a particular emphasis on urban environments, host–pathogen interactions, and the genetic signatures that reveal evolutionary pressures acting on microbial genomes. My research spans viral evolution, molecular adaptation, regulatory and structural constraints, and the computational frameworks needed to analyze large genomic datasets.I also serve as Director of Bioinformatics for the MetaSUB Consortium, where I help coordinate sampling, sequencing, and analysis across more than 130 cities. My broader scientific interests include the development of open, scalable tools for analyzing complex biological systems.

Experience

1. Postdoctoral Associate

   Weill Cornell Medicine

   Jul 2023 — Present

Education

• Temple University

  Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bioinformatics

• Stony Brook University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Biochemistry

  2008 — 2011

• New York University

  Master of Science (M.S.), Biology/Biological Sciences, General

  2016 — 2018