Meet the team

I'm Andrew Skalkin, founder and CEO of Datagrok, Inc. I'm a computer scientist and entrepreneur who's passionate about making data accessible and actionable for everyone.

Before starting Datagrok in 2019, I spent 17 years at Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson, where I held various positions in R&D IT, including software engineer, architect, scientist, and manager. I gained extensive experience in multiple domains such as cheminformatics, health informatics, LIMS, bioinformatics, biomarker research, drug development and manufacturing, statistical process control, biosensor data integration, and clinical data analysis.

I'm proud of my work at Janssen, where I designed and built innovative solutions that are still used by thousands of scientists today. One of my most notable projects was ABCD, an integrated drug discovery informatics platform, and another was JAKE, the Janssen Autism Knowledge Engine, a biosensor-driven platform for enabling clinical trials for autism spectrum disorder.

I have a Master's degree in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. When I'm not running Datagrok, I enjoy reading, hiking, and playing tennis.

As the CFO/COO of Datagrok, my focus is on guiding the company's financial strategy and making sure operations run smoothly through a cohesive approach to finance and ops.

I've been in the tech industry for over a decade, working with both private and public tech companies. I've had a mix of hands-on experience and leadership roles, giving me a broad understanding of how data and technology trends can be applied to optimize financial and operational processes and drive business success.

I began my career at Deloitte, where I developed a strong foundation in public accounting and went on to hold finance roles of increasing responsibility in the industry, including serving as Corporate Controller at EPAM Systems (NYSE: EPAM), where I helped the company during its successful IPO. I then became the VP of Finance at Aricent (acquired by Altran) and later at WorkFusion, growing my expertise in the SaaS domain.

Through these diverse experiences, I have honed my ability to work collaboratively, lead cross-functional teams, and execute complex financial and operational strategies.

When I'm not working, I enjoy exploring the great outdoors through hiking, playing tennis, and indulging in a good book. As a fun fact, I embarked on a three-month-long road trip in 2016 and had the opportunity to visit almost every state in the continental US. And I also climbed Kilimanjaro!

I was six years old when I wrote my first program in Basic, and since then, I have been captivated by computers and all things digital. At 15, I took on a programming side job and was struck by how much I enjoyed it. Now, I work at Datagrok, where I am responsible for the overall platform architecture and development of the backend features, making the experience for applied developers and data scientists smoother and more productive.

My personal motto is to simplify people's lives and leave everything better than I found it. I am driven by making processes faster and more efficient. During my time at commercial banks, I created tools that transformed hours-long processes into seconds. I also find great satisfaction in tackling real-world problems, and I am proud of my contribution to a team researching autism spectrum disorder where I helped develop a data processing pipeline. Incidentally, this project is how I met Andrew Skalkin, the founder of Datagrok.

For me, working at Datagrok requires a deep love for computer science and a comprehensive understanding of how computers work. It also requires a desire to make the world a better and more understandable place.

In my free time, I enjoy building electronic devices, composing music, and playing the electric guitar. Fun fact: my passion for electronic devices led me to earn a Master's degree in Radio-electronics Engineering.

I earned a degree in industrial electronics and computer science at the institute, which gave me a comprehensive understanding of how digital devices operate at a physical level. After graduation, I worked as a software developer in the industry for several years before encountering a biologist who piqued my interest in image analysis of gel electrophoresis of nucleic acid fragments. This sparked a desire to study biology, and I eventually earned my Ph.D. in Genetics and Mathematical Biology, focusing on methods for unbiased screening of DNA methylation. My thesis, I presented a solution for downsampling target genome loci via PCR primer extension, which was based on the known human genome sequence.

My most thrilling project was developing a reduced representation bisulfite sequencing method to identify markers of breast cancer response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and analyzing the resulting data. Currently, I am part of the Datagrok’s bioinformatics team, where we create comprehensive tools for visualizing and analyzing macromolecule sequences and related biological and chemical observations.

I have a background in theoretical physics, holding both a Master's and a Ph.D. degree in the subject. After spending 8 years in academia, where I studied general relativity and its modifications inspired by cosmology and particle physics, I joined the Datagrok team. My interests span mathematics and modern data analysis methods applied to the natural sciences, which is why I find working at Datagrok an incredible experience. I get to work with state-of-the-art technology in bioinformatics and cheminformatics, tackle complex problems, and continuously develop professionally.

The open-minded and constructive atmosphere of the company deserves a special mention, as I learn a lot from my colleagues and am happy to share my knowledge with them when it is helpful. It is all about staying focused and getting things done effectively.

I have had a passion for math and programming, as well as natural science, since my school days. I have explored various areas within the IT sphere, from graphic design to data science, and currently work as an SDET at Datagrok. Although I am still searching for my niche, what I appreciate about my current role is the opportunity to participate in different stages of product creation and grow in various directions. In my free time, I typically study, read, or play PC games.

Over the years, I have had varying hobbies and interests, but currently, my main focus is programming and mathematics. However, if needed, I am able to lend my skills in areas such as system administration, radio engineering, design, art, or even geography, as I have basic knowledge of these areas. It enjoy being a resource for people on a variety of topics.

To work here, I think one should be ready to learn, have strong work ethics, be creative and passionate about what they do.

I have a strong background in computer science and have also studied natural sciences such as astronomy, chemistry, and physics. However, I eventually decided to focus my career on programming. Currently, I work on the Datagrok’ Platform Core team, where my role is to support data visualizations and maintain the overall platform structure.

What I am most proud of in my work at Datagrok is the implementation of new features and support for our data visualization tools. These tools greatly benefit scientists and it is fulfilling to see satisfied clients.

In my free time, I often spend time with friends or continue my studies.

For anyone looking to join our team, the qualities I value most are passion, a strong desire to learn, and a positive attitude.

User Experience Designer, Engineer with more than +7 years of experience with a strong background in developing and implementing interactive, intuitive, user-centered design solutions for web and mobile. Proficient in HTML, CSS, JavaScript and familiar with modern front-end frameworks. I am skilled in industry-standard design tools such as Sketch, Figma, InVision, and Axure.

Adept at creating wireframes and prototypes and conducting user testing to validate design solutions. Passionate about solving complex design challenges and creating positive user experiences. Committed to staying current with industry trends and advancements in UX engineering.

I am proud to work in Datagrok as a UX Designer, Engineer, as it offers personal and professional growth. Working in a Datagrok team fosters a supportive and inclusive environment where you can learn from your colleagues and receive feedback to help you improve your skills. Collaborating with others allows me to bring diverse perspectives and approaches to problem-solving, leading to more creative and effective solutions.

I pursued computer science in both college and university, driven by my passion for coding that began in high school. I'm grateful for my decision to pursue this field as it brings me joy and fulfillment even today.

At Datagrok, I’m part of the Platform Core team. One of the projects I enjoyed was working on the platform viewers and consolidating them into a single package. The process was challenging as it involved code analysis, rewriting in TypeScript, and refactoring, but now we have a unified charts package and I'm proud of my accomplishment.

In my free time, I like staying active, watching various sports, especially football, and engaging in physical activities like training and walking.

Datagrok presents a unique and thrilling project with its range of challenges and opportunities. Working here requires a flexible and adaptable mindset, as you're constantly presented with different problems that test and improve your skills as a developer.

My Dad is a software engineer, and my mom is a quality assurance engineer, so I suppose I was destined to become part of the IT world. When I was little, I thought that Information Technology was like magic. How can green letters on the black screen, like in The Matrix, connect people worldwide? Isn’t it fascinating? Now I think of myself as a magician.

After school, I used a gap year to understand what I wanted to do in this world. I was bored, so I asked my father if he had any challenging tasks for me to practice. That’s how my path began, without university or any other required education. It turned out that being a DevOps engineer is like solving puzzles and investigating mysterious cases, just like in computer games which I always liked.

My work started with hands-on tasks, and I used every year on my path to burnish my skills.

Datagrok was the first company that allowed me to build the whole infrastructure from scratch. It is the greatest challenge I have faced, and we are going to infinity and beyond. I cannot wait to see our serverless computational service for clients. At Datagrok, I also lead DevOps and QA teams.

Working in Datagrok can be demanding. It allows you to bring your expertise to an entirely new level. The person needs to be passionate and responsible about work.

I wrote my first computer program at the age of 10. It was a program for lego traffic light robot and had no words, only visual blocks. My 10th program was written in Java in order to learn about Android applications. My 100th and 1000th programs were written as a training for national programming contests I was winning at high school. After that I stopped counting.

My academic background includes strong foundations in math and computer science, covering distributed systems and databases, machine learning and computer vision, computer graphics. Professionally, I've been doing backend development for bigtech companies and startups as well as teaching next generation of brilliant computer scientists. I identify as multilingual of computer science world and don't really mind which language you use. What I do care about are architecture, scalability, performance, safety and backward compatibility. And I'm glad to be a part of Datagrok team to improve the platform in these aspects.

During my free time, if I have any, I usually participate in orienteering races, which might not be popular but is the most adventurous activity I know. When there are no races, I enjoy exploring the city or playing video games: I dream of creating a nice indie game one day.

After earning my degree, I realized that it wasn't the right fit for me. I've always had a passion for connecting with people, which was reflected in my hobbies like playing board games and computer games with other players. Fate led me to a career in human resources, and I am proud of myself for taking the leap and embracing a significant change. I've transformed from someone timid about making phone calls to someone who regularly engages with others as part of their job.

At Datagrok, I have encountered numerous challenges and have had the privilege of working with talented and interesting individuals. These experiences have enabled me to continuously grow and develop in my chosen career path, aligning with my passions and interests.

Having conducted multiple interviews, I have come to realize that it is not enough to just have specialized knowledge in your field; possessing qualities that enable you to effectively integrate and contribute to a team are equally vital.

With an MSc in Biotechnology and Chemical Technology and interdisciplinary expertise in computing, mathematical modeling, and mathematical biology, I am now pursuing a Ph.D. in Mathematical Biology and Bioinformatics, specializing in drug design. My thesis work involves creating novel classification machine learning techniques for virtual screening.

Prior to joining Datagrok, I collaborated with industry, research institutes, and academic institutions on various mathematical biology initiatives to advance drug design, including developing new mathematical methods and structure descriptions for small molecules for virtual screening and analyzing chemical datasets. One of my most exciting projects was creating a machine learning approach for classifying compounds based on biological activity.

At Datagrok, I lead the development of tailored applications for early research and discovery in biopharmaceuticals. I am responsible for biological data mining and visualization, designing mathematical algorithms, performing high-performance scientific computing, and simulating biological systems.

I am eager to work with anyone motivated by the opportunity to work on drug discovery projects that merge science, technology, and computational methods.

In my leisure time, I am an avid mountaineer.

I am a Scientific Application Developer for life sciences. My background is in Computer Science. My journey with software development began in middle school when I first tried coding in C++. Since then, I have honed my skills and expanded my knowledge, writing code in multiple languages, including C++, Python, Java, C#, and Typescript.

I am inspired by the potential of software to make a lasting impact on the world. One of my most challenging and rewarding projects to date is the creation of ADME calculators. Though it’s an ambitious and challenging undertaking and while there is still much work to be done before the app will be released in production, it is gratifying to know that I am contributing to the discovery of new drugs.

In my free time, I continue to educate myself and improve my skills. I also enjoy choreography and learning new languages.

Datagrok is more than just a team; it's a family. To be a part of this team, you need to be responsive, have a strong desire to learn and grow, and be willing to tackle challenging projects that bring value to the world.

I have a rich academic background, having earned a Master's in Applied Mathematics and a Ph.D. in Technical Sciences. I spent over a decade as an Assistant Professor in the Cyber Security and Software Department at Odessa National Polytechnic University, where I authored over 50 scientific papers in three languages, reviewed and edited multiple scientific articles, and presented at conferences.

My journey at Datagrok started as a technical writer, but I soon discovered my interest in the technical aspects of our solutions. I now work on the Quality Assurance team, making sure our products are bug-free, user-friendly, and intuitive.

Working at Datagrok requires a combination of creativity, attention to detail, and open-mindedness. I'm happy I can transalte these skills into something tangible, like the stability of our platform or enhanced user experience of our products.

With a background in Physics and Mathematics, I specialize in creating image processing technologies drawing on my Ph.D. research. My work has resulted in 27 scientific papers, 10 patented software programs, and various scientific accolades.

At Datagrok, I design high-performance data analysis functions and solutions for complex processes. I thrive on using low-level algorithms to build fast-working tools and the challenge of seamlessly integrating technologies for the best outcomes.

Working at Datagrok is a unique experience, as the team is driven by their own vision, leading to innovative and highly effective solutions to intricate problems. It requires a flexible mindset and the ability to think outside the box.

In my free time, I enjoy playing lego with my son and preparing for mountain adventures.

Growing up, I was into video games and dreamt of creating games that others would enjoy playing. However, as I pursued a degree in computer science, I stumbled upon the fascinating field of data science and its potential to advance biology and medicine research. This sparked my interest, and I now work as part of Datagrok's bioinformatics team, where I have contributed to the development of a comprehensive peptide analysis tool. The project started soon after I joined Datagrok, and it has grown into something thousands of scientists can use daily. The project's growth has mirrored my own personal growth, and it's exciting to see the package improve with every commit!

When I'm not working, I enjoy playing video games, dancing, spending time with my cat, and talking with friends.

Working with passionate and enthusiastic people is important to me. I value a desire to learn and grow in my colleagues.

I've been a science fan since school. I won three national titles in chemistry and represented Georgia in global events, like the ICHO and Mendeleev Olympiads, bringing home three medals. At university, my focus shifted to biology, coding, and ML, where I co-authored several research papers.

I love working with data, especially bioinformatics. It's even more exciting for me than working in a lab. That's why I've spent time on various pharma projects, where my focus has been on generating, analyzing, and processing biological data. Now, I'm with Datagrok as a Scientific Application Developer. My role? Enhance and grow the scientific tools for our platform. Tech's awesome - I get to innovate, yet balance my work with fun times with friends and sports.

Thinking about joining us at Datagrok? Get ready to learn and take some risks. You've got to be excited about making something new and unique—not just sticking to the playbook. Communication is important, too. Our team's really supportive, and it's great if you can do the same for others.

I have a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Kyiv National Economic University, where I developed a strong foundation in financial analysis, management, and planning. Furthermore, I have accumulated ten years of professional experience in various financial roles and industries, including audit, transportation, and IT sectors. These diverse experiences have provided me with a comprehensive understanding of financial principles and best practices.

My primary objective is to ensure the financial health and stability of our organization. I am dedicated to improving our financial performance and optimizing resource allocation, with the ultimate goal of maximizing efficiency and success.

Outside of my professional pursuits, I have a passion for biking, yogging, and traveling. Engaging in these activities allows me to unwind, gain fresh perspectives, and nurture my creativity.

With years of experience as an R&D chemist,I come from a pharmaceutical world where I contributed to the development of new drugs. While chemistry has always been close to my heart, my interest in technology nudged me to pick up coding alongside my day job. Now, as a Software Engineer, I've found a fulfilling intersection of these two passions. I'm just setting out on this new journey, and I'm thrilled to be part of the Datagrok family.

For me, effective team communication is the backbone of successful work. That's why I like working with people who are straightforward, accountable, and genuinely excited about the tasks at hand.