My research investigates gene regulation, metabolic adaptation, and evolutionary processes in yeast. I combine genetics, comparative genomics, and machine learning on large-scale phylogenomic datasets to study how yeast strains gain and lose the capacity to metabolize alternative carbon sources. I focus on uncovering the regulatory and evolutionary basis of sugar metabolism — particularly mannose and the hexose-transporter family — and on building open-source software that helps researchers identify yeast strains with unusual metabolic capabilities and the genes that drive them. The work sits at the intersection of comparative genomics, predictive modelling, and empirical genetics, with applications in metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and industrial fermentation.
Education
2024 – present · Ph.D., Genetics (Molecular and Statistical Genetics, Computational Biology). Department of Genetics and Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Hittinger Lab.
2024 – 2026 · M.Sc., Genetics. Department of Genetics and Medical Genetics, University of Wisconsin–Madison. Majors: mathematical modelling, machine learning, genomics and statistical genetics, and advanced matrix algebra.
2021 – 2023 · M.Phil., Crop Science (Genetics and Plant Breeding). Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana. Advisors: Prof. Pangirayi Tongoona, Dr. Beatrice Elohor Ifie. Thesis: Combining ability and heterotic grouping of selected yellow maize (Zea mays) inbred lines for resistance to maize streak virus (MSV).
2015 – 2019 · B.Sc., Agriculture, First Class Honours. Department of Crop Science, University of Cape Coast. Advisor: Dr. Josiah Tachie-Menson. Dissertation: Modelling the response of Cyperus rotundus to light and moisture.
2006 – 2009 · West African Senior Secondary School Certificate (Agricultural Science). Akro Senior High School.
Professional experience
2023 · Graduate Research Assistant, West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) and Biotechnology Centre, University of Ghana. Field and greenhouse experimental design (maize, rice, sorghum); pollination, bagging, harvesting; DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and gel electrophoresis; protein purification and cDNA synthesis; manuscript preparation.
2021 · Intern, Legacy Crop Improvement Center (LCIC), Ghana. Field trial design for maize and sorghum; three-way maize hybrid development programme.
2019 · Intern, Department of Crop Science, University of Cape Coast. Undergraduate teaching, exam invigilation and grading, distance-education teaching support, supervision of undergraduates, field research planning and analysis.
2018 · Intern, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana. Extension services and farmer training on fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) control, safe pesticide use, mango grafting, and inventory management.
2016 – 2023 · STEM Teacher, Citadel Home Tuition Services, Ghana. Maths, Biology, Physics and Chemistry tuition and assessment.
2010 – 2014 · Pesticide Team Lead, Golden Exotics Ltd. (Kasunya Estates), Ghana. Tractor-mounted spraying on banana plantations; scouting for Sigatoka, banana aphids (Pentalonia nigronervosa), and banana rust thrips (Chaetanophothrips signipennis).
Grants and awards
Stone Travel Award, Department of Genetics, UW–Madison.
World Bank ACE Impact Funding, University of Ghana.
Ghana National Petroleum Commission (GNPC) Scholarship, University of Ghana.
USAID Feed-the-Future and Africa Lead — Champions for Change Leadership Workshop on Food Security.
Publications
Komolafe A.O., Bello O.B., Coffie S.A., Narh-Madey B., Elebo A., Adekoya M.A., et al. (2026). Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Nigerian cowpea accessions using SSR markers. Discover Plants. DOI.
Forchibe E.E., Fening K.O., Narh-Madey B., Afreh-Nuamah K., Cobblah M.A., et al. (2023). Weather, phenology, and predator effects on the seasonal variation of aphids on cabbage. Journal of Applied Entomology, 147(4), 261–270. DOI.
Conference presentations
Narh-Madey B., Horianopoulos L., Rokas A., Hittinger C.T. (2026). Beyond Glucose: Machine Learning Identifies Genetic Determinants of Mannose Metabolism Across More Than 1,000 Yeast Species. Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics (PEQG) Conference, Genetics Society of America, Asilomar, CA. DOI.
Narh-Madey B., Ifie E.E., Tongoona P.B., Danquah E.Y. (2023). Combining ability and heterotic group studies for grain yield and resistance to maize streak virus disease in yellow maize (Zea mays L.). 3rd African Plant Breeders Association (APBA) Conference, Benguerir, Morocco.
Software development
gfc (Genome Format Converters) — a unified Python CLI for 30 bioinformatics file-format conversions, benchmarked against the standard single-purpose tools. Repository.
myconote — a high-performance Rust pipeline for fungal genome annotation from assembly through NCBI submission, with an integrated RNA-seq and allele-specific-expression stack. Repository.
Maize Base Index Calculator — an online tool that predicts maize performance under environmental conditions using artificial neural networks.