I am an Assistant Project Scientist in the Palmer Lab at UC San Diego and a Visiting Scientist in the Genomic Data Modeling Lab at Seattle Children's Research Institute. I use computational approaches to study genomic regulatory variation and to integrate transcriptomic genetic associations with complex traits. I created and manage the RatGTEx Portal, and developed Pantry for multimodal RNA phenotyping and genetic analysis.
I received my PhD in Quantitative and Computational Biology from Princeton University, advised by Mona Singh. My research involved amino acid substitution impact (DeMaSk), cancer mutations in zinc finger domains, and linking gene expression with tissue morphology. As an undergraduate at the University of North Texas, I majored in Biology and conducted computational microbiome research with Qunfeng Dong.
Publications
Google Scholar profile
ORCID profile
Selected Publications
Multimodal analysis of RNA sequencing data powers discovery of complex trait genetics
Munro et al. Nature Communications 2024
Website
The regulatory landscape of multiple brain regions in outbred heterogeneous stock rats
Munro et al. Nucleic Acids Research 2022
Joint analysis of gene expression levels and histological images identifies genes associated with tissue morphology
Ash*, Darnell*, Munro*, and Engelhardt Nature Communications 2021
DeMaSk: a deep mutational scanning substitution matrix and its use for variant impact prediction
Munro and Singh Bioinformatics 2020
Website
Two critical positions in zinc finger domains are heavily mutated in three human cancer types
Munro et al. PLOS Computational Biology 2018
Press releaseAdditional Publications
Bioenergetic-related gene expression in the hippocampus predicts internalizing vs. externalizing behavior in an animal model of temperament
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 2025
Y and mitochondrial chromosomes in the heterogeneous stock rat population
G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 2024
Genome-wide association study finds multiple loci associated with intraocular pressure in HS rats
Frontiers in Genetics 2023
A web-based multi-genome synteny viewer for customized data
BMC Bioinformatics 2012
Talks
Identification of regulatory landscape in multiple brain regions of outbred heterogeneous stock rats
Complex Trait Consortium-Rat Genomics 2021 meeting
Writing
Data Science D-Mun-strations
Heat-scatter plots August 2024
Rubik's Cube configurations May 2024
Mapping mazes from the inside April 2024
Methods for Solving Protein Structures
Metaculus Journal, 2022
The Path to Controlling Cancer
Metaculus Journal, 2021
Lifespan Extension in Dogs and Longevity Research Signals
Metaculus Journal, 2021
The Neverending Interview
The Cooper Square Review, 2019
Et cetera
Certifications:
Initial Physiological Training Course – NASA (2024-11-07 @ Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, Houston, TX)
Open Water Diver – PADI (2024)
Amateur Radio License, General Class – FCC (2024)
I wrote questions for the AI benchmark Humanity's Last Exam, three of which are included in the public dataset (two on genetics and one on mathematics).
SEQUENCE
I collaborated with Jin Angdoo on a short experimental film about proteins. It was runner-up for the Symbiosis Award at the Imagine Science Film Festival 2019.
I was the Website Manager for the COVID-19 National Scientist Volunteer Database. I also designed the logos for that organization and EndCoronavirus.org.
PBNify
I created a web app to convert any image into a printable paint by number outline. I sold the site to Paintable Pictures.
Graphics
I create generative art in Python.