Computational Oncology • Rare Disease • AI

K.M. Tahsin Hassan Rahit Ph.D.

A researcher and educator specialized in "low-resource" problems in oncology and genomics. Passionate about integrating biological data modalities with Artificial Intelligence (esp. Graph Networks) to solve mysteries in Rare Cancer.

Research Focus

Biological Networks, Knowledge Graphs, Representation Learning, Oncology, Rare Cancer, OMICS.

Technical Core

GNN, NLP, Machine Learning, Game Theory, Low-resource Language Models.

Dr. K.M. Tahsin Hassan Rahit
16+
Years of experience
Postdoc
Current Role

Education

Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
University of Calgary, Canada
2019 — 2024

Specialization: Bioinformatics & Rare Disease Genetics. Focus on developing computational tools and machine learning models for genetic modifier identification.

Thesis: Unveiling Variability in Rare Disease-Gene Association using Bioinformatics and AI
M.Sc. in Computer Science
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)
2015 — 2017

Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal. Magna Cum Laude. Focus on NLP and Cross-Lingual approaches.

Thesis: BanglaNet: Towards a WordNet for Bengali Language using Cross Lingual WSD
B.Sc. in Computer Science & Engineering
American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB)
2012 — 2015

Full Free Scholarship. Focus on Software Engineering and Data Mining.

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC)
Notre Dame College, Dhaka
2009 — 2011

Experience

Postdoctoral Associate
Bose Lab, Dept of Oncology, University of Calgary
Academic
Oct 2024 - Present

Skills: GNN, CNN, WGS, Spatial transcriptomics, scRNAseq, ATACSeq, histopathology slides data, Radiology data, EHR. Project focused on using AI methods to integrate multiomics data collected from cancer patients. Involved with collaborative projects (POET) and oversee data warehousing/maintenance.

Sessional Instructor (MDPR 613)
University of Calgary (Precision Health Program)
Academic
May - Jun 2025

Course: AI Application in Precision Health. Skills: Lead and manage Post-graduate level course. Designed and ran course for diverse professionals ensuring maximum learning.

Sessional Instructor (MDSC 523)
University of Calgary (Bachelor of Health Science)
Academic
Sept 2024 - Apr 2025

Course: AI Application in Health (3 credits). Proposed modernized curriculum, designed/delivered content, graded multiple assessment methods, managed two TAs.

Teaching Assistant (MDPR 610)
University of Calgary
Academic
Jan-Apr 2022, 2023, 2024

Course: OMICS Application. Helped in teaching, managing course content, communication, grading, creating quiz questions for diverse mature students.

Machine Learning Developer
Stork (storkapp.me)
Industry
Jan 2019 - Jun 2019

Tech Stack: Python [Spacy, Pandas, Numpy, Matplotlib]. Utilized textual big data to train, detect and extract specific information. Built industry level ML model.

Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (Govt.)
Academic
Feb 2018 - Jan 2019

Tenure tracked scientist at Institute of Computer Science (ICS). Design and develop software based R&D. Tech Stack: SQL, C#, .Net Framework, PowerBI.

Lecturer
Primeasia University
Academic
Sept 2017 - Jan 2019

Courses taken: Data Mining, Web Technology, Programming Language. Curriculum development, lecture delivery, student assessment.

Software Engineer
Job Minister Inc, Canada
Industry
Sept 2017 - Dec 2017

Developed website to display jobs collected from different sources. Tech Stack: Python, Django, MySQL, NodeJS, Docker.

Project Manager
Amujamu Co., LTD, Thailand
Industry
Aug 2016 - Aug 2017

South Asian tourism company. Skills: Scrum (Agile), Basecamp, Trello, Jira. Decision making for software/infrastructure, HR, logistics, procurement. Managed software team.

Software Engineer
Prochito IT Solution
Industry
Aug 2015 - Jul 2016

Tech Stack: Python, PHP, Symfony, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Docker, ReactJS, Ansible. Design & develop database, software architecture, DevOps for ERP/Web apps.

Senior Web Programmer
Web Technology Bangladesh
Industry
May 2013 - June 2014

Tech Stack: PHP, CakePHP, Java, MariaDB, PostgreSQL. Built PMS for Ministry of Education (EED) and management software for BIAM.

Freelancer
oDesk
Industry
Feb 2012 - Aug 2015

PHP, Python, CakePHP, Django, Pyramid, Drupal. Served clients from USA (Incudigm Network) and Europe (Interfile).

Research & Publications

2023 · 3rd BioNet Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta
ModSpy: A Machine Learning model detects Genetic Modifiers from Whole Genome Sequencing data
2023 · 24th International C. elegans Conference 2023, Glasgow, Scotland (Poster)
High Throughput Identification of Genetic Modifiers: A Bioinformatics Approach with Machine Learning
2022 · ASHG Annual Meeting 2022, Los Angeles, USA (Poster)
Reviewers' Choice Award: A Machine Learning-based approach to extract the gene-disease association discovery information from OMIM
2020 · NVivo Conference 2020
Textual Analyses using NVivo on Thousands of Literature to Extrapolate Insight
2019 · 1st BioNet Alberta; Lethbridge, Alberta
Identifying genetic modifiers from Whole Genome Sequencing data
2019 · ASHG Annual Meeting 2019 (Poster)
High throughput identification of MCCRP2 genetic modifiers using Caenorhabditis elegans
2014 · University of Calgary
PhD Dissertation: Unveiling Variability in Rare Disease-Gene Association using Bioinformatics and AI
2017 · AIUB
Masters Thesis: BanglaNet: Towards a WordNet for Bengali Language using Cross Lingual WSD
2015 · AIUB
Undergrad Thesis: Product Information Indexing Based on Crowdsourced Review Extraction
Invited Talks · University of Calgary (2019-2022)
Multiple Seminars (Developmental Biology, Worm Seminar, Bioinformatics Seminar)
Invited Talk · AIUB Workshop (2016)
The Zen of Python: Python in Depth and its Frameworks

Service & Community

Mentorship

  • Graduate Students

    Mentored multiple graduate and undergraduate students in bioinformatics and computational biology research projects.

  • Teaching Assistants

    Supervised TAs for MDSC 523 and coordinated course delivery.

Community Service

  • Patient Research Advocate (PRA) — STARS Program, IASLC ( 2025)
  • Patient Advocate — Canadian ROS1ders ( 2025)
  • Admission Application Reviewer — BHSc, UCalgary ( 2025)
  • Peer Reviewer — GENETICS & G3 ( 2024-now)
  • Grant Reviewer — Digital Research Alliance of Canada ( 2024)
  • Cover Design — G3 - Genes Genomes Genetics ( Nov 2023)
  • Poster Judge — CURE & ACHRI Retreat ( 2023, 2024)
  • Director (Social) — ACHRITA ( 2022)
  • President — Bangladeshi Scholars' Association, UCalgary ( 2020-21)
  • Vice President (Finance) — BSA, UCalgary ( 2019)
  • Instructor — Science of Living (6-9th grade), Cosmo School ( 2018)

Honors & Awards

Alberta Innovates Postdoctoral Fellowship
2024-now
Health Innovation and Enhancement (Supports top researchers).
Charbonneau CSM-Phillips Scholar Award
2024-2026
Recognizes top talents in CSM. (Declined for fellowship)
Eyes High Doctoral Recruitment Scholarship
2019-24
Most prestigious internal UCalgary scholarship.
ACHRI Travel Award
2022
For impactful research presentation at ASHG.
Alberta Graduate Excellence Scholarship
2019-20
Outstanding academic achievements.
Global WordNet Conference Travel Award
2018
Singapore.
Vice Chancellor's Gold Medal
2017
For M.S. Research work.
Magna Cum Laude
2017
Excellent academic result.
National ICT Fellowship
2016-18
Bangladesh Govt. Research fellowship for two consecutive years.
Full Free Scholarship
2012-15
100% scholarship grant throughout undergraduate degree.

Get In Touch

I'm always open to discussing research collaborations, teaching opportunities, or interesting projects. Feel free to reach out!

Calgary, Alberta, Canada