Dr Matthew Tarnowski
Research Officer, University of Swansea · Founder, Microbiome Design
Dr Matthew Tarnowski is a Research Officer at the University of Swansea with a combined wet-lab and computational background built across microbial ecology, long-read sequencing, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and biodegradation-focused research.
His work has been published as first author in Nature Communications and Royal Society Open Science, and as co-author in Physics of Life Reviews and other peer-reviewed journals. Research spans RNA sequencing methods, soil microbiome characterisation using nanopore sequencing, responsible innovation, and the governance of biological data. Google Scholar lists a verified institutional email at Swansea University.
Microbiome Design was founded to bring that combination of bench experience and computational depth to research groups and companies that need specialist omics support without building a full internal team. Every project is handled directly — no junior analysts, no account managers, no handoffs.
Most providers are technically shallow but polished, or scientifically strong but not commercial. This is both.
Selected publications
First-author and key collaborative work. Full list on Google Scholar.
Massively parallel characterization of engineered transcript isoforms using direct RNA sequencing
Tarnowski MJ, Gorochowski TE · Nature Communications · 2022 · doi:10.1038/s41467-022-28074-5
Read on nature.com →Soil as a transdisciplinary research catalyst: from bioprospecting to biorespecting
Tarnowski MJ, Varliero G, Scown J, Phelps E, Gorochowski TE · Royal Society Open Science · 2023 · doi:10.1098/rsos.230963
Read on royalsocietypublishing.org →From genotypes to organisms: State-of-the-art and perspectives of a cornerstone in evolutionary dynamics
Manrubia S et al. (incl. Tarnowski MJ) · Physics of Life Reviews · 2021 · doi:10.1016/j.plrev.2021.03.004
Research focus
Microbiome Design sits at the intersection of bench science and applied bioinformatics. The research spans two connected areas.
Sequencing methods and functional genomics
Long-read and direct RNA sequencing, including the development and characterisation of methods for massively parallel transcript isoform analysis. Applied to synthetic biology and engineered systems, with direct overlap into complex community sequencing for metagenomics and metatranscriptomics.
Environmental microbiomes and responsible innovation
Soil and environmental microbiome characterisation using nanopore sequencing, with a focus on One Health frameworks, the intersection of land management and human health, and the responsible governance of biological data. Published work introduces a framework for transitioning from bioprospecting to biorespecting — the ethical and legal context for how genetic data from environmental samples should be used and shared, in line with the Nagoya Protocol and emerging digital sequence information regulation.
Client project areas
Academic and commercial clients across human gut microbiome research, agricultural and soil biodiversity, marine ecology, biodegradation monitoring, and multi-omics integration. Projects range from single-dataset analysis to multi-year study support. UK-primary geography, with selected Europe and US collaborations for projects with strong scientific fit.
Common questions
- What is Dr Tarnowski's background?
- Combined wet-lab and computational training across microbial ecology, long-read sequencing, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and biodegradation systems. Research Officer at the University of Swansea. First-author in Nature Communications and Royal Society Open Science.
- Do I work directly with Dr Tarnowski?
- Yes. Every project is handled directly by the founder. No handoffs to junior analysts, no account managers in the middle.
- What makes Microbiome Design different from a generic bioinformatics service?
- Most services start with the pipeline. Microbiome Design starts with the biological question. That difference determines whether the results are interpretable, defensible, and actually useful — or just technically processed.
- What kinds of projects does Microbiome Design take on?
- Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, amplicon sequencing, multi-omics integration, long-read sequencing workflows, and biodegradation and environmental system profiling. Projects that are messy, complex, or low-reference are a particular strength.
Work with Dr Tarnowski
Scoping calls are free and take thirty minutes. Describe your project and we will tell you whether it is a good fit and what it would cost.