Scan
A focused diagnostic of the workflow, evidence base, data quality, stakeholder pressure, and decision bottleneck.
- Clarify the real problem
- Map current data and systems
- Identify high-leverage next steps
Scientist · Operator · AI Workflow Builder
Turning complex science into decision-grade signal.
I am William T. Barker, PhD, Founder of SignalForge Advisors. I help biotech, pharma, and life-sciences teams translate noisy data, fragile evidence, omics outputs, and AI/ML workflows into clear decisions that can survive scientific, operational, and stakeholder scrutiny.
Life-sciences R&DInfluenza, vaccine process development, virology, small molecules, and translational research.
Data to decisionOmics, bioinformatics, statistical modeling, ML workflows, and clean analytical pipelines.
AI integrationPractical AI systems that clarify work, reduce friction, and improve measurable outcomes.
SignalForge Advisors
For teams staring at complexity and needing a defensible next move.
SignalForge Advisors exists for the middle ground where science is real, data is imperfect, decisions are urgent, and generic AI or dashboard work is not enough. The goal is not more noise. The goal is signal that helps teams decide what to do next.
Pilot
A contained build or analysis that tests whether a data, AI, or scientific workflow can produce decision-useful output.
- Prototype AI-assisted workflows
- Build reproducible analyses
- Stress-test assumptions and outputs
Run
Ongoing advisory and execution support for teams that need a scientific operator who can bridge domain depth, data systems, and leadership communication.
- Translate technical work for stakeholders
- Harden recurring workflows
- Turn ambiguity into operating rhythm
About
A scientific generalist with execution depth.
My background spans organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, high-throughput screening, microbiology, influenza virology, reverse genetics, vaccine R&D, omics, bioinformatics, and applied machine learning.
I founded SignalForge Advisors to help technical teams use AI and data systems with discipline. That means asking better questions, cleaning the data layer, understanding the scientific context, and building workflows that create useful decisions rather than impressive-looking artifacts.
Current
Founder, SignalForge Advisors
Advising life-sciences teams on scientific strategy, AI/data workflow design, omics interpretation, and decision-grade communication.
Influenza vaccine R&D
CSL Seqirus
Supported seasonal influenza vaccine R&D through hands-on virology, reverse genetics, RNA-seq, data analysis, and cross-functional scientific problem solving.
Startup science
Agile Sciences
Contributed to drug discovery and screening programs around antibiotic resistance, biofilms, and small-molecule adjuvant strategies.
Doctoral training
Organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry
Trained in synthesis, drug screening, ADME-aware thinking, structure-activity relationships, and the design of small-molecule research programs.
Capabilities
Where I am most useful.
Scientific sensemaking
Convert messy R&D questions, contradictory readouts, and incomplete evidence into a clear model of what is known, unknown, and decision-relevant.
Omics and bioinformatics
Design, audit, and explain RNA-seq and related analytical workflows so outputs become biologically meaningful and review-ready.
AI workflow plumbing
Integrate LLMs and ML tools into real work with guardrails, measurement, quality checks, and honest boundaries around what the models can and cannot do.
Technical communication
Translate complex science into executive briefs, stakeholder narratives, decision memos, project plans, and operating documents.
Pipeline hardening
Improve fragile scripts, manual analyses, and ad hoc workflows into cleaner, repeatable systems that a team can trust.
R&D strategy
Bring a cross-domain perspective across small molecules, virology, vaccine manufacturing, data science, and AI-enabled research operations.
Publications
Scientific foundation in antimicrobial adjuvants, resistance, and small-molecule discovery.
BH Koller, LA Jania, H Li, WT Barker, RJ Melander, and C Melander. Adjuvants restore colistin sensitivity in mouse models of highly colistin-resistant isolates, limiting bacterial proliferation and dissemination. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy 68 (10), e00671-24, October 2024.
J Bailey, LA Gallagher, WT Barker, VB Hubble, J Gasper, C Melander, and C Manoil. Genetic Dissection of Antibiotic Adjuvant Activity. mBio, January 2022.
WT Barker. Small Molecules that Synergize with Colistin. Doctoral Dissertation, University of Notre Dame, June 2020.
WT Barker, LA Jania, RJ Melander, BH Koller, and C Melander. Eukaryotic Phosphatase Inhibitors Enhance Colistin Efficacy in Gram-negative Bacteria. Chemical Biology and Drug Design, June 2020.
AM Nemeth, AK Basak, AW Weig, SA Marrujo, WT Barker, LA Jania, TA Hendricks, AE Sullivan, PM O’Connor, RJ Melander, BH Koller, and C Melander. Structure-Function Studies on IMD-0354 Identifies Highly Active Colistin Adjuvants. ChemMedChem, November 2019.
WT Barker, AM Nemeth, SM Brackett, AK Basak, CE Chandler, WJ Zuercher, RJ Melander, RK Ernst, and C Melander. Repurposing Eukaryotic Kinase Inhibitors as Colistin Adjuvants in Gram-negative Bacteria. ACS Infectious Diseases, August 2019.
BM Minrovic, VB Hubble, WT Barker, LA Jania, RJ Melander, BH Koller, and C Melander. Second-Generation Tryptamine Derivatives Potently Sensitize Colistin-resistant Bacteria to Colistin. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, April 2019.
WT Barker, CE Chandler, RJ Melander, RK Ernst, and C Melander. Tryptamine Derivatives Disarm Colistin Resistance in Polymyxin-resistant Gram-negative Bacteria. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, March 2019.
WM Huggins, WT Barker, JT Baker, NA Hanh, RJ Melander, and C Melander. Meridianin D Analogs Display Antibiofilm Activity Against MRSA and Increase Colistin Efficacy in Gram-Negative Bacteria. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, May 2018.
WT Barker, SE Martin, CE Chandler, TV Nguyen, TL Harris, C Goodell, RJ Melander, Y Doi, RK Ernst, and C Melander. Small Molecule Adjuvants that Suppress both Chromosomal and mcr-1 Encoded Colistin Resistance and Amplify Colistin Efficacy in Polymyxin-susceptible Bacteria. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry, October 2017.
Contact
Have a complex scientific, data, or AI workflow problem?
I am most useful when the work is ambiguous, technical, cross-functional, and important enough that the answer needs to be both scientifically honest and operationally useful.