Current: Senior Research Scientist at Funga PBC
Senior Research Scientist | Microbial Ecologist | Earth System Scientist
I design and lead scalable, reproducible data systems for genomics and computational biology — linking microbial and environmental data to biodiversity and carbon dioxide removal
What I Do
I work at the intersection of computational biology, genomics, earth system science and data systems, focusing on how complex scientific work scales within organizations. I design and guide reproducible workflows, data models, and analytical systems for interdisciplinary teams, bringing domain expertise and systems thinking to biological and environmental data.
Areas of Expertise
- Metagenomics & Bioinformatics - Advanced microbial community analysis and genome-scale insights
- Machine Learning & Automation — Scalable modeling, workflow automation, and reproducible science
- Environmental Data Science - Transforming big data into actionable environmental intelligence
- Soil Biogeochemistry - Understanding soil-microbe interactions and ecosystem function
- Carbon Dioxide Removal — Connecting soil and microbial data to durable, measurable carbon outcomes
- Research Strategy & Systems Thinking - Helping interdisciplinary teams scale complex scientific work
- Data Visualization & Communication - Making complex science accessible and impactful
- Cloud-Native Systems & Infrastructure — Designing scalable, reproducible, and cost-efficient data platforms
Open to Collaboration
I’m always glad to connect with researchers and teams working on environmental genomics, biodiversity, reproducible data systems, and climate-focused science — whether that’s a research collaboration, a speaking or workshop invitation, advising, or mentoring early-career scientists.
📧 Email: dawson.fairbanks[at]gmail.com
💻 GitHub: github.com/dawsonfairbanks
📚 Google Scholar: View Publications
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dawsonfairbanks