About me

Research Interests

My name is Zachary Rodriguez; I am a biologist, scientist, and computing enthusiast, currently working as a Postdoc at Louisiana State University (LSU) Center for Computation & Technology. For my postdoctoral research, I measure symptoms of serious mental illness by analyzing their digital phenotypes (video, audio, questionnaires) using machine learning and natural language processing techniques. In addition to research projects, I develop pipelines (in python, R, and bash) for data cleaning, processing, and analysis. Check out the ASAP Lab and my Data Science page for more information. My personal research focuses on using advanced computational approaches to answer questions about evolution, mental health, and genetic variation.

Personal Interests

I am a Newyorican (Puerto Rican from New York) dude with a passion for nature and technology. Apart from research, I am a foodie, plant dad, dog-lover, and herpetologist who loves to explore our natural world. If any of those interest you, connect with me on Instagram (@frogriguez).

Diversity

As a qPOC (queer person of color), I am an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in STEM. I strive to help underrepresented folks (BIPOC, women, LGBTQ2IA+, people with disabilities) succeed, find mentors, and increase their visibility. See more: Zach Rodriguez and Diversity and my post on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in Academia.

Science Communication and Scientific Outreach

I am passionate about scientific outreach and Science Communication and thus I spend much of my time communicating with people about biological diversity and how to conduct research. My goal is to increase public scientific literacy and engagement.

Press Releases and Media Appearances

Featured Blog Posts

For more, see: Blog Posts