I am Bryan Saldivar, a PhD‑trained data scientist and AI researcher focused on generative models for drug discovery and health tech. I have 12 years of experience in Python, ML, and IT, with a track record of applying deep learning, computer vision, and data science to real-world problems. Currently a Postdoc at IRB Barcelona, I develop Generative AI for new chemical entities and collaborate across disciplines to bring research to impact. I have worked across academia, startups, and industry, including a Marie Curie fellowship and a BBVA Data Challenge top‑3 finish. I enjoy teaching, mentoring, and building tools that accelerate discovery and innovation. In my free time I explore the intersection of biology and AI and share knowledge through talks, courses, and open science initiatives.

Bryan Saldivar

I am Bryan Saldivar, a PhD‑trained data scientist and AI researcher focused on generative models for drug discovery and health tech. I have 12 years of experience in Python, ML, and IT, with a track record of applying deep learning, computer vision, and data science to real-world problems. Currently a Postdoc at IRB Barcelona, I develop Generative AI for new chemical entities and collaborate across disciplines to bring research to impact. I have worked across academia, startups, and industry, including a Marie Curie fellowship and a BBVA Data Challenge top‑3 finish. I enjoy teaching, mentoring, and building tools that accelerate discovery and innovation. In my free time I explore the intersection of biology and AI and share knowledge through talks, courses, and open science initiatives.

Available to hire

I am Bryan Saldivar, a PhD‑trained data scientist and AI researcher focused on generative models for drug discovery and health tech. I have 12 years of experience in Python, ML, and IT, with a track record of applying deep learning, computer vision, and data science to real-world problems. Currently a Postdoc at IRB Barcelona, I develop Generative AI for new chemical entities and collaborate across disciplines to bring research to impact.

I have worked across academia, startups, and industry, including a Marie Curie fellowship and a BBVA Data Challenge top‑3 finish. I enjoy teaching, mentoring, and building tools that accelerate discovery and innovation. In my free time I explore the intersection of biology and AI and share knowledge through talks, courses, and open science initiatives.

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Language

Spanish; Castilian
Fluent
English
Fluent

Work Experience

Postdoc at IRB Barcelona: Institute for Research in Biomedicine
June 1, 2024 - Present
Working with generative models (deep learning) for drug discovery. Used singularity containers, HPC, autoencoders, transformers, GAN, hVAE, VAE, contrastive learning, diffusion models and PyTorch.
Lead Teacher at Ironhack
September 1, 2025 - Present
Teaching applied AI, automation (Make.com), and Power BI to professionals in various sectors.
ML/AI Consultant at Freelancer
March 1, 2025 - Present
Predicted breast cancer from sensor time series for a startup. Approaches included GPT-like training and evolutionary algorithms.
Research Fellow at Universitat Rovira i Virgili
February 1, 2019 - May 1, 2022
Applied ML to genomic and omic data; co-authored SARS-CoV-2 mutation prediction paper. Used GANs on pre-clinical data, structured data regression/classification, and built a face recognition webapp for public science events.
Research Assistant at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
September 1, 2017 - October 1, 2018
Developed computer vision systems for anemia and tuberculosis diagnosis and plant stomata classification. Keywords: CNN, Python, TensorFlow, Keras, segmentation, computer vision.
Innovation Consultant at Freelancer
April 1, 2016 - September 1, 2017
Consulted in innovation management, technology watch reports, R&D support, prototype development, and delivered trainings/talks on scientific research.
Virtualization Engineer at Netcare SAC
January 1, 2012 - February 1, 2014
Technical support and deployment of Citrix solutions, server virtualization, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, and digital certificates.
Technical Support at Sistemas UNI
June 1, 2010 - April 1, 2011
Helpdesk, network and database administration, website management.

Education

PhD in Nutrigenomics at Universitat Rovira i Virgili
February 1, 2019 - May 1, 2025
Master in Science, Technology and Innovation Policies & Management at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
April 1, 2014 - April 1, 2016
Bachelor in Telecommunications Engineering at Universidad Tecnológica del Peru
April 1, 2007 - April 1, 2012

Qualifications

Marie Curie Fellowship (Pre-doctoral)
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
Martí Franquès Cofund Predoctoral Fellowship
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
CONCYTEC Scholarship for Master's degree
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025
Pi School AI program – Full scholarship
January 11, 2030 - December 28, 2025

Industry Experience

Life Sciences, Healthcare, Software & Internet, Professional Services, Education
    paper Portable system for the prediction of anemia based on the ocular conjunctiva using AI

    Anemia is a major health burden worldwide. Examining the hemoglobin level of blood is an important way to achieve the diagnosis of anemia, but it requires blood drawing and a blood test. In this work we propose a non-invasive, fast, and cost-effective screening test for iron-deficiency anemia in Peruvian young children. Our initial results show promising evidence for detecting conjunctival pallor anemia and Artificial Intelligence techniques with photos taken with a popular smartphone.
    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Generating Novel Chemical Entities using Latent Diffusion for Target Specific Binding

    Preliminary results of using latent difussion for new molecule generation

    https://www.twine.net/signin

    paper Prediction of Recurrent Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Using Artificial Neural Networks

    Predicting SARS-CoV-2 mutations is difficult, but predicting recurrent mutations driven by the host, such as those caused by host deaminases, is feasible. We used machine learning to predict which positions from the SARS-CoV-2 genome will hold a recurrent mutation and which mutations will be the most recurrent. We used data from April 2021 that we separated into three sets: a training set, a validation set, and an independent test set. For the test set, we obtained a specificity value of 0.69, a sensitivity value of 0.79, and an Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.8, showing that the prediction of recurrent SARS-CoV-2 mutations is feasible. Subsequently, we compared our predictions with updated data from January 2022, showing that some of the false positives in our prediction model become true positives later on. The most important variables detected by the model’s Shapley Additive exPlanation (SHAP) are the nucleotide that mutates and RNA reactivity. This is consistent with the SARS-CoV-2 mutational bias pattern and the preference of some host deaminases for specific sequences and RNA secondary structures. We extend our investigation by analyzing the mutations from the variants of concern Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, and Omicron. Finally, we analyzed amino acid changes by looking at the predicted recurrent mutations in the M-pro and spike proteins. https://www.twine.net/signin