Alumni Profiles Series: Ivelin Georgiev

Ivelin Georgiev, Ph.D., is a professor of pathology, microbiology, and immunology and of computer science at Vanderbilt University, and a faculty member of the Vanderbilt Center for Antibody Therapeutics. He received his B.S. from Eckerd College and his Ph.D. in computer science from Duke University, where his research focused on computational biology and the development of algorithms for modeling and analyzing biomolecular structures. From 2009 to 2015, he served as a staff scientist and co-head of the structural bioinformatics core section at the NIH Vaccine Research Center. At Vanderbilt, Dr. Georgiev leads a research program in computational and experimental immunology, with a primary focus on antibody discovery and engineering, structural bioinformatics, and the development of algorithms and platforms for vaccine and therapeutic design. His research centers on computational immunology, antibody engineering, and algorithmic approaches for vaccine and therapeutic development.

Tell me about yourself.

I came to Duke when my research lab moved from Dartmouth College. I was drawn to computer science because of its potential for real-world impact. I liked that CS could be applied in ways that connected directly with experimental science rather than staying purely theoretical. At Duke, I worked in Bruce Donald’s lab in computational biology, which gave me the opportunity to merge my computer science background with biological questions. That combination, bringing CS and biology together, is still at the heart of my work today.

What is one of your favorite memories of Duke?

The first thing that comes to mind is the strong sense of community I experienced there. I had just moved from Dartmouth, and Duke quickly became a place where I felt connected. I loved the geography too. Being within arm’s reach of the beach was a huge perk compared to places I have lived since, like Nashville. I have great memories of spending time at Wrightsville Beach, enjoying Duke Gardens, and seeing Durham transform over the past 10 to 15 years in really positive ways.

What professional plans did you have in mind as you were completing your graduate degree?

My career path has not been what I initially imagined. When I started graduate school, I was not set on a clear trajectory. In fact, I thought I would never want to be at an academic institution. Over time, though, I realized how much I enjoyed being in that environment, particularly in roles where the emphasis was on research rather than heavy teaching loads. 

During my postdoc at the NIH, I discovered how exciting it could be to combine my CS background with biology in a way that produced results with immediate clinical impact. That unique opportunity to connect computational work with clinical outcomes was something I had not anticipated but found incredibly rewarding.

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What has your career path looked like since you graduated?

After finishing my Ph.D. at Duke, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the NIH before moving into a faculty position. The transition was gradual. I was hired first as a staff scientist, which gave me the chance to mentor postdocs, design projects, and serve as senior author on manuscripts. That experience pushed me toward leading my own group, where I now have the freedom to set my own research directions. 

Looking back, I encourage graduate students to take some time off between milestones. I took a couple of months off between graduate school and my postdoc, and it helped me appreciate the immensity of completing the Ph.D. It is easy to move on quickly to the next step without taking the time to celebrate what you have accomplished. 

Although industry has its appeal, I have found academia to be a great fit. I value the job security, the ability to train the next generation, and the chance to mentor postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates.

Tell us about your current job. What’s your favorite thing about what you do?

I am now a professor at Vanderbilt, where I lead a research group working on monoclonal antibody design for infectious diseases. What I enjoy most is that every day feels different. There are always new projects, new data to analyze, and new people joining the lab. I cherish the dynamic nature of the work, even though it can be non-stop. 

The ultimate goal is to get something into the clinic, and whenever we see results that suggest a promising effect, it is incredibly rewarding. That is especially true because in this line of research, most results are negative. The moments when things do work are what make all the effort worthwhile.

Do you have any exciting projects in the works?

Right now, my lab is working on developing new algorithms to design antibodies from scratch. We want to know whether a computer can create highly accurate antibodies for any disease target we choose. We already have several promising monoclonal antibody leads that could become therapeutics, and it feels like we are only beginning to scratch the surface of what algorithmic prediction can do for medicine.

What has been the most surprising thing about your career?

The biggest surprise has been learning how to manage and mentor people. You do not get much training in how to navigate different personalities or how to build a team. Suddenly, as a PI, everyone depends on you, and there is no universal approach that works for every person. 

In the beginning, I relied on past mentors for advice. Over time, I had to handle unique situations, such as leading during the pandemic, that no one could really prepare me for. I have learned to ask for feedback, to lean on trusted colleagues, and even to turn to books and institutional resources for support.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I have gotten is to hire the best people. It can feel tempting to hire quickly just to get the work done, but that approach rarely pays off. Hiring someone who is not a good fit can lower morale and productivity across the whole lab. You are making a long-term commitment, and the success of the group depends on those choices.

How do you balance professional and personal life?

I try to balance my time by recognizing the natural rhythms of academic work. There are periods when deadlines make things extremely intense, like submitting grants or finishing papers, but there are also slower stretches. During those times, I make sure that the breaks I take are meaningful and restorative. Personally, I prefer to work in bursts of focus and then truly disconnect when I step away.

What advice would you give to current Duke graduate students?

My advice is simple: optimize for what excites you. If you are passionate about something and committed to it, you can be successful at it, and you will be happier in the long run. In computer science especially, there are so many paths to security and success, even with the rapid advances in AI. Choosing a career just for money or status is more likely to lead to dissatisfaction, but if you love what you do, you will thrive both professionally and personally.

AUTHOR

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Laura He

Ph.D. candidate, Computer Science

Laura He is a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Computer Science at Duke University. Her research lies at the intersection of machine learning and structural biology, with a focus on developing computational methods that enable the visualization and interpretation of biological structures in their native environments. When away from a computer, she enjoys hiking, cooking, and exploring local coffee shops.