Dr. Osvaldo D. Rivera
Founder · Life Sciences Operator · Venture & Strategy
15+ years across commercial omics, venture studio operations, partner diligence, data science, AI systems, and building science ventures that reach the market.
I'm a life-sciences researcher and entrepreneur. With 15+ years across molecular biology, production bioinformatics, data science, and venture building, I move comfortably between the bench and production code, and I'm drawn to problems where biology, data, and execution meet in the same conversation.
I earned my PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in cancer biology and RNA bioinformatics, with work published in PNAS and Cancer Research. After graduate school I spent two years in biotech industry developing RNA therapeutic assays at production scale before turning full-time to building companies and research programs.
Today my work sits where rigorous science, commercial delivery, and venture judgment have to stay in the same loop: partner diligence, CEO-facing market reads, and quant-driven allocation decisions without losing sight of whether investigators and customers will actually use what we ship. I am drawn to corporate development, strategic finance, and portfolio-company strategy roles where that combination matters, especially across healthcare, biotech, and AI-enabled life sciences.
I work from Puerto Rico with teams in Miami and remotely. Timeline holds the full professional record.
Research
Scientific interests
Biomedical and Translational Research
Characterize and model gene network regulation and transcriptomic diversity in cancer, including RNA-seq, pre-mRNA splicing, and ncRNA roles in transformation, progression, metastasis, immune evasion, and relapse. Mine human genomic datasets for mechanisms and actionable insight, connecting sequencing readouts to assay optimization and precision medicine workflows.
Bioinformatics infrastructure
Design reproducible pipelines and software for integrative omics analyses. Nextflow, containerized workflows, HPC and cloud deployment, and tooling that wetlab and drylab teams can both trust.
Applied data science and AI systems
Statistical modeling, machine learning, and large-scale data annotation for research and product teams. AI evaluation and red-teaming for biotech, health-tech, and fintech clients building domain-specific copilots.
Venture modeling and market intelligence
Systematic biotech catalyst and quantitative diligence, venture and financial modeling, OSINT market analysis, and commercialization strategy for deep-tech and life-science spinouts. Crypto and blockchain portfolio tooling with the same risk and reporting discipline applied to studio allocation decisions.
Speaking
Presentations, talks, and panels
From undergraduate symposia and poster sessions through invited seminars, pitch showcases, accelerator presentations, and mentor panels across RNA biology, bioinformatics, and venture building.
Topics
- Bioinformatics and computational biology
- Applied data science and machine learning
- AI annotation, evaluation, and red-teaming
- RNA biology and alternative splicing in cancer
- Venture building and biotech commercialization
- Pitch competitions and accelerator showcases
- Translational omics and precision medicine
- Student mentorship and STEM education in Puerto Rico
29 invited talks, posters, pitch showcases, and panels from 2011 through 2025. View presentation history in Timeline
Book a speaking slot or seminar.
Book a meetingConsulting
Science, data, AI, and venture execution
I help science-led organizations move from insight to execution. That can mean a bioinformatics pipeline, a data-science model, an AI annotation workflow, a market landscape, or the operational backbone a lean team needs to stay revenue-ready.
Engagements are scoped for clarity on delivery and accountability. The cards below route to the right intake. For hiring conversations or the complete career record, see Timeline.
Ozcorp Scientific LLC
Quant-driven venture studio with operations across the United States of America and its territories. Venture modeling, scientific advisory, data science, AI annotation, and LLM agent and AI scientist evaluation for science-led teams, plus fractional InfraOps. I run the operational stack lean ventures need, from billing and contracts through delivery.
- Operational servers for 5+ investigators enabling university spinouts and startup operations
- Tailored market research for 10+ clients supporting CEO decision-making
- AI evaluator and red-teaming for commercial clients across biotech, health-tech, and fintech
- Classifier models, meta-analyses, and custom inference pipelines for research clients
- LLM-driven sales, legal, and accounting frameworks for venture studio operations
- React and cloud-native dashboards connecting complex tooling via MCP and REST APIs
GENOS LLC
Computational biology CRO in San Juan, Puerto Rico, spun out of Ozcorp Scientific. Bioinformatics-as-a-service for academic labs, biotech startups, and research institutions that need computational capacity without hiring a full team. Single-cell and bulk RNA-seq, multi-omics pipeline design and execution, high-throughput screening, human genetics, BioIT infrastructure, data annotation and curation, and translational workflows for cancer, metabolism, and aging research. GENOS LLC also operates a digital contract procurement platform anchored by the BioCredit® system that meters scientific work and automates commercial credit and settlement.
- Multi-HPC framework for 3 academic institutions in Puerto Rico
- Large-scale multi-omics analyses of 30+ GEO datasets (50TB+)
- BioAI educator in residence with Biogenesis Puerto Rico
- Pre18 Accelerator Generation 7 grant recipient
Schedule a call to scope bioinformatics, data science, AI, or venture operations work. Use the intakes above for project requests and bioinformatics engagements.
Timeline
Curriculum vitae
The complete professional record, from education and work experience through publications, skills, and works in preparation.
Education
- Cell and Molecular Biology - Cancer Biology (3.69/4.0)
- Early Admissions via Penn SUIP (2014, 2015)
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program recipient, Life Sciences and computational biology
- Advisors: Yoseph Barash, PhD & Kristen W. Lynch, PhD
- Thesis: Alternative mRNA Splicing redefines the Landscape of Commonly Dysregulated Genes Across the Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patient Population.
- Cell and Molecular Biology, Summa Cum Laude (3.97/4.0)
- Early Admissions Program
- Full Scholarship, Centro del Desarrollo de Estudiantes de Ciencias (CDEC)
Work experience
GENOS LLC is a computational biology CRO spun out of Ozcorp Scientific LLC. It delivers bioinformatics-as-a-service for academic labs, biotech startups, and research institutions that need computational capacity without hiring a full in-house team. Engagements span bulk and single-cell RNA-seq pipeline design, multi-omics execution, BioIT and HPC infrastructure, data annotation and curation, and translational workflows for cancer, metabolism, and aging research. The firm has built a sustained footprint with Puerto Rico labs and institutions that need local, production-grade computational biology support. GENOS LLC also operates a digital contract procurement platform for bioinformatics services, anchored by the BioCredit® system that meters scientific work and automates commercial credit and settlement.
- Single-cell and bulk RNA-seq pipeline delivery for academic and biotech clients
- Multi-HPC framework for 3 academic institutions in Puerto Rico
- Large-scale multi-omics analyses of 30+ GEO datasets (50TB+)
- Atomic inference models for an immunogenomics lab
- Molecular dynamics of substance abuse
- Classifier models of healthcare utilization
Ozcorp Scientific LLC is a venture studio and scientific services firm with digital operations across the United States of America and its territories. I model market opportunities, invest in emerging technologies, spin out deep-tech ventures, and deliver client-sourced commercialization projects alongside in-house research programs. The studio provides venture modeling, scientific advisory, data science, AI annotation and evaluation, and fractional InfraOps for science-led teams that need production infrastructure without building a full internal stack. I also run the operational backbone for lean ventures, including billing, contracts, taxes, and general management so investigators and founders can stay focused on science and product delivery.
- Operational servers for 5+ investigators enabling university spinouts and startup operations
- Tailored market research for 10+ clients supporting CEO decision-making
- LLM-driven sales, legal, and accounting frameworks for venture studio operations
- Data annotation and AI red-teaming for biotech, health-tech, and fintech clients
- Commodities and biotech catalyst trading research since 2020
Partner-led venture commercializing a library of small fluorescent compounds for biomarker and therapeutic applications. Active venture pursuing SBIR and STTR funding.
501(c)(3) non-profit built to train scientific students in research, software, and commercialization, including the RIVERA-OMICS branch for omics-focused student projects and biotech market exploration. Program sunset when the foundation could not be fully staffed to scale operations independent of related commercial work.
- Mentored 11 students through RIVERA-OMICS on biomedical and biopharma career pathways
- Sponsored 14 students in career development and graduate school applications
- Secured $10K in directed donations for RIVERA-OMICS
- RNA basic biology research experiments with students
- AI-driven digital LMS and lab instructor framework for biotechnology courses
- NSF-GRFP reviewer
Cell and Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Cell Biology, Immunology, and General Biology. Implemented new student activities and established liaisons with academic research labs for improved learning and career development.
R&D of high-throughput sequencing assays for interrogation of RNA-based therapeutics. Serviced the largest biotech companies in the industry.
Longevity health and fitness technologies. Paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and re-absorbed by Ozcorp Scientific LLC.
Cancer biology and RNA bioinformatics thesis research across two Penn labs.
- NSF GRFP Life Sciences – Informatics. Thesis on AML splicing and RNA regulation in cancer.
- Broader impacts: bioinformatics capacity-building in Puerto Rico, continued through GENOS LLC.
- Barash Lab, Biociphers Lab. Core PI: Yoseph Barash, PhD
- Lynch Lab. Co-PI: Kristen W. Lynch, PhD
Publications: PNAS, 2021 · AML splicing · Cancer Research, 2023 · Parkin/PTEN
- Andrei Tomas-Tikhonenko, PhD. RNA biology
- Irfan A. Asangani, PhD. Chromatin biology
- Yoseph Barash, PhD. RNA bioinformatics
PI: Eric J. Brown, PhD. Continuing work on DNA-damage break site technologies.
Publication: Mol Cell, 2018 · fork collapse
PI: Eric J. Brown, PhD. Support for development of DNA-damage break site technologies.
Publication: Mol Cell, 2018 · fork collapse
PI: Oliva Primera-Pedrozo, PhD. Biocompatible ligand-coated nanoparticle synthesis and characterization.
Publication: J Nanoparticle Res, 2015 · quantum dots
PI: Scott W. Nelson, PhD. Kinetic characterization of DNA nuclease complexes.
Publication: Methods Enzymol, 2018 · Mre11-Rad50 kinetics
PI: Bryan Ballif, PhD. Phospho-proteomics experiments of brain tissue for kinase-mediated signaling. UAGM-sponsored pre-college research immersion.
Publication: FEBS Letters, 2013 · ESDN/CrkL
Set up local office desktop computers and cleaned data from hard drives.
Awards and honors
GENOS LLC, $25k grant. Puerto Rico Science and Technology Research Trust, San Juan, PR
- Life Sciences and computational biology (NSF GRFP field of study)
- Full-ride fellowship: NSF covered tuition, fees, and institutional costs
- $32,000/year stipend in addition to institutional support
- Proposed research: myeloid differentiation and myeloid mechanisms in cancer biology
- Broader impacts: expand bioinformatics and computational biology training in Puerto Rico, continued through community-facing work including GENOS LLC
- Highest GPA at UAGM-Cupey graduation
- $1,500 cash award at graduation
- Shared the cash award equally with a fellow graduate
- Recognized at UAGM-Cupey graduation
- UAGM-Cupey Honor's Program
- Stipend and travel support through PR-LSAMP
- NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
- Stipend and travel support for cross-disciplinary chemical sciences training
- NSF CHE 1262826
- Full-ride support through CDEC (Centro del Desarrollo de Estudiantes de Ciencias)
- Tuition covered for the undergraduate program
- Stipend for living expenses
Additional training
Teaching and learning
STEM student professional development across RIVERA and RIVERA-OMICS programs. Program sunset. Lectures, seminars, and 1:1 meetings about 3 hours per week while active.
BIOL355 Cell and Molecular Biology (3 h/wk). BIOL355L Laboratory of Cell Biology, 2 sections (8 h/wk).
BIOL355 Cell and Molecular Biology, BIOL355L Laboratory of Cell Biology, BIOL322 Immunology, BIOL203 General Biology I.
Volunteering
Reducing health disparities with accessible colorectal cancer screening. Philadelphia, PA
Leadership First, Philadelphia PA
UAGM
Presentation history
Conferences attended
Peer-reviewed publications
Technical skills
R, Python, and Unix shell from exploratory notebooks in RStudio and Jupyter to production workflows hardened with Cursor and Google Antigravity.
Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, microarray, and methylation analysis. Nextflow pipelines with Git and version control on GitHub and Bitbucket. Docker and Singularity containers on Slurm, Oracle SGE, and AWS EC2, Batch, and S3.
NGS QC and preprocessing with FastQC, Trimmomatic, and Cutadapt. Alignment with STAR, minimap2, and pbmm2. Samtools, Bedtools, and GATK. Quantification with Salmon. Differential expression with DESeq2 and edgeR. Splicing with MAJIQ and rMATS. Single-cell analysis with Seurat and Scanpy, including batch correction and pathway enrichment. High-throughput screening data analysis.
GRCh38/hg38 and GRCm39/mm10 reference builds; GENCODE annotation. Human genetics and population cohort analyses. Programmatic access to GEO, TCGA, COSMIC, BeatAML, and ENCODE. Core facility and translational bioinformatics support.
t-tests, ANOVA, and regression; PCA, hierarchical clustering, and consensus clustering; Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and test for trends; random forests and convolutional neural networks; PyTorch and TensorFlow; LLM and agentic AI benchmarking, evaluation, and red-teaming; prompt design and biological copilot workflows; acceptance criteria and failure-mode review for AI-generated analyses.
Molecular dynamics with AutoDock Vina and GNINA, including protein-protein macromolecular complexes.
Python, R, and SQL; supervised and unsupervised models; classification metrics (AUC, F1, precision/recall), forecasting, model monitoring and drift, and A/B testing.
ETL/ELT pipelines with dbt and Power BI dashboards; React, TypeScript, Supabase, Netlify, and Azure delivery.
LLM and transformer internals and Hugging Face ecosystem; agentic AI benchmarking and evaluation; prompt design, biological copilot workflows, and failure-mode review of AI-generated analyses.
Large-scale data annotation, AI evaluation, and red-teaming for biotech, health-tech, and fintech clients.
Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq, microarray, and methylation analysis; translational and public health analytics; U.S. public or government dataset extraction.
React applications in JavaScript and TypeScript with HTML and CSS. Cloud deployment on Netlify, Supabase, and Azure.
Git and version control on GitHub. Dashboards wired through MCP and REST APIs. SEO-aware and AI-native content systems with CMS customization across client sites.
Full-stack delivery from raw data pipelines to client-ready reports and operational tooling. Formal DevOps for science-led teams.
Cell culture, transfections, cloning, CRISPR, PCR, and DNA, RNA, and protein prep. Immunoblotting, ChIP-seq, eCLIP-seq, FACS, Annexin V assays, and microscopy.
BRITL-seq and eRibo protocols. Radioactive RT-PCRs and minigene splicing reporters.
Quantum dot synthesis and characterization with ICP-OES, XRD, SAXS, and HRTEM.
NGS readout communication to wet-lab scientists and interdisciplinary teams who need actionable interpretation.
NSF predoctoral grant writing; NIH NCI SBIR Phase I writing and submission with strong reviewer scores and advance-ready feedback before federal award timing shifted.
Venture development, business registrations, market analysis, and biotech product lifecycle planning from concept through launch.
Agile and Waterfall project management with Jira, Airtable, Asana, Microsoft 365, and Google Workspace. Data governance, KPI and metrics definition, and stakeholder reporting for investors and scientific advisors.
Equities, fixed income, derivatives, and treasuries. Portfolio management, financial modeling, compliance, risk controls, and macro indicator tracking.
Systematic signals and NLP-informed diligence with Interactive Brokers, Alpaca Markets API, and OSINT-informed modeling for venture studio allocation.
Cryptocurrency and blockchain portfolio tooling with the same risk and reporting discipline applied to traditional books.
Native Spanish. Native English.
Coursework and certifications
- Undergraduate: General Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Calculus, Organic Chemistry, Genetics, Biotechnology, Biostatistics, Microbiology, Developmental Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Methods in Molecular Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Research Techniques, Contemporary Issues in Genetics and Developmental Biology, Advanced Composition in English and Spanish, Sociologies, Economics (Master's-level audit)
- Graduate PhD: Cell Biology, Regulation of the Genome, Statistics in Experimental Design and Analysis, Cancer Biology and Genetics, Scientific Writing, Biomedical and Health Informatics, Data Science in Biomedical Informatics, Statistical Methods in Survival and Categorical Data Analysis
- Wharton Online (2019): Introduction to Marketing, Accounting, Business Foundations
- LinkedIn Learning: Understanding Capital Markets, Generative AI
- DataCamp (2016): Intro to Python, Intro to R, SQL Queries, Intro to Machine Learning
- FASE1 Lab entrepreneurship training, Puerto Rico Science and Technology Research Trust
- BioLeap biotech accelerator, Puerto Rico Science and Technology Research Trust
- Berkeley Emeritus Executive Education in AI/ML via ITGROUP Technology Consultants Inc.
In preparation
- Oncogenic dysregulation of nonsense-mediated RNA degradation (review)
- RNA-seq meta-analysis (client-sourced research via GENOS LLC)
- Computational toxicology analysis (client-sourced research via GENOS LLC)
- RNA-seq meta-analysis (internal research, GENOS LLC)
Contact
Get in touch
Speaking, consulting, collaborations, or general inquiries. Email or book a meeting directly.