Your average nerd

I'm Olivier Renson, a passionate developer and tech enthusiast.

Say hi!

/ about me

From medicine to bioinformatics, and now branching into cybersecurity, driven by my own curiosity, my journey has always been about exploring how technology can solve complex problems. Over the past years at ULiege, I’ve combined research in genomics with advanced skills in programming and high-performance computing.

Here are some technologies I have been working with:

  • Python
  • Bash
  • R
  • Django
  • Nextflow
  • Docker

When I’m not exploring new technologies or competing in hackathons, you’ll likely find me on a triathlon course or trekking trail.

Profile Picture

/ experiences

Bioinformatics Research Assistant @ GIGA - University of Liege

OCT 2021 - NOW

  • Developed and maintained web apps and bioinformatics pipelines for genomic data analysis using Python, R, and Nextflow.
  • Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to integrate computational methods into biological research projects.
  • Provided support and programming courses to researchers and FOREM.
Annual Report

Cybersecurity Trainee @ Belgian Cyber Command - Defense

JUN 2024 - AUG 2024

  • Cyber training: learned about OSINT, forensics, threat hunting, hacking, radio communication, drones, and electronic warfare through workshops, demonstrations, and a Capture the Flag competition.
  • Military experience: took part in night-time simulation exercises, discovered military life, joined morning physical training, and even practiced marching drills at the Royal Military Academy.
  • Selective & impactful: as one of sixteen selected participants, I really enjoyed this immersion in cyber defence and intelligence, combining technical skill-building with team challenges and celebrating the national day from the front row.
Gallery

Contestant

JAN 2020 - AUG 2024

  • Solvay Data Challenge 2020: picture decade classification (creativity award)
  • Solvay Data Challenge 2021: top 50 hit chart prediction
  • B12 Consulting: video game optimization (3rd position)
  • Odoo Hackathon #2: "time capsule" open project
  • Reply: algo optimization
  • Solvay Data Challenge 2023: stroke risk prediction (best performance award)
  • MetaCTF Antisyphon Cyber Range: various security challenges
Gallery

Master Thesis @ Laboratory of Image Synthesis & Analysis - ULB

JAN 2021 - JUN 2021

  • Developed a custom software tool in Python that centralizes and automates complex image processing for Tc99m-IDA hepatobiliary scintigraphy, improving efficiency, reproducibility, and scalability of patient case analysis.
  • Implemented image processing algorithms to extract functional liver information, achieving better correlation with clinical variables compared to routine methods.
  • Collaborated with radiologists and researchers to validate model performance, improve diagnostic accuracy and recommend changes to clinical workflows.
Presentation Report

Genomics Intern @ CHU Liege

JAN 2021 - APR 2021

  • Benchmarked and optimized methylation detection tools for Oxford Nanopore data (Nanopolish, f5c CPU, f5c CUDA) on HPC clusters using heterogeneous CPU/GPU architectures, achieving up to 4.5x speedup through GPU acceleration and I/O optimization.
  • Applied the tools to MCF7 breast cancer whole-genome data, validating methylation profiles against bisulfite sequencing.
  • Gained hands-on expertise in HPC usage, containerization (Docker/Singularity), and advanced sequencing data analysis.
Presentation Report

/ qualifications

Junior Cybersecurity Analyst @ CISCO Networking Academy

JAN 2024 - JAN 2025

After my Master’s degree (more about data and AI) and a few years at Uliege, I was looking for something new to get involved in. Given my poor understanding of networking and my interest in security, that seemed like the perfect solution to fill that knowledge gap. So, I jumped into the CISCO Junior Cybersecurity Analyst career path and completed it during my free time, gaving me a solid foundation in networking and cyber defense.

  • Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • Networking Basics
  • Networking Devices and Initial Configuration
  • Endpoint Security
  • Network Defense
  • Cyber Threat Management
Diploma

Bioinformatics & Modelling @ ULB

SEPT 2019 - JUN 2021

After finishing my Bachelor’s in Medicine, I realized I was getting a bit tired of endless textbooks and wanted something more hands-on. That’s why I jumped into this two-year Master’s in Bioinformatics and Modelling, where biology, computer science, and statistics collide. It turned out to be a real game-changer: I got to mix my medical background with coding skills, learn how to make sense of massive biological datasets, and work with people from all sorts of scientific worlds. The program wasn’t easy (plenty of late nights with R and Python), but it was incredibly rewarding and it gave me the perfect mix of theory and practice to thrive in the data-driven side of life sciences.

  • Year 1
    • INFO-F-101Programmation19/20
    • BINF-F-402Genomics, proteomics, evolution13/20
    • BINF-F-401Computational Methods for Functional Genomics14.5/20
    • BINF-F-404Modeling dynamical systems in biology11/20
    • BINF-F-403Biophysics and structural bioinformatics I10/20
    • BINF-F-405Biophysics and structural bioinformatics II13/20
    • BING-F-4002Acquisition et analyse de données13/20
    • CHIM-F-422Modélisation des rythmes du vivant15/20
    • INFO-F-438Algorithms in computational biology16.5/20
    • INFO-F-422Statistical foundations of machine learning17/20
    • INFO-F-434Biological databases and analysis of macromolecular sequences17.5/20
  • Year 2
    • INFO-F-409Learning dynamics & Computational Game Theory15/20
    • INFO-H-400Medical Information Systems16/20
    • INFO-H-410Techniques of artificial intelligence14/20
    • INFO-H-500Image acquisition and processing18/20
    • INFO-H-515Big Data : Distributed Data Management and Scalable Analytics18/20
    • INFO-F-527Internship (academic or industrial environment)16/20
    • MEMO-F-518Master thesis17/20
Diploma

Medicine @ Uliege

SEP 2016 - JUN 2019

I started my Bachelor’s in Medicine a bit by default, but really it was my curiosity for science that pushed me there. I’ve always loved digging into how things work, whether in biology, technology, or anything in between. Medicine gave me that front-row seat to the complexity of the human body.

  • Year 1
    • BIOL2026-2General biology12.94/20
    • CHIM9263-1Chemistry preparing to medicine11.32/20
    • PHYS3018-1Physical bases for medicine14.49/20
    • APPR0331-1Training in transdisciplinary approaches to medical problems14/20
    • URGC0111-1First aid19.84/20
    • BIOC9238-1General biochemistry9/20
    • PHYL0645-1General physiology11.83/20
    • ANAT0224-1Introduction to human anatomy12.17/20
    • HISL0541-1General histology12.67/20
    • LANG2940-1English for medical sciences15.09/20
    • SANT0110-2Psycho-social Dimensions of Health14.61/20
    • EPID0110-3Basis of Epidemiology16.22/20
  • Year 2
    • NEUR0431-1Introduction to neurophysiology11/20
    • IMMU0121-5General Immunology11.06/20
    • MICR1714-1General microbiology11.37/20
    • SBIM0489-1General virology11.04/20
    • LANG0071-1Advanced English for medical sciences12.02/20
    • ANAP0120-3General pathological anatomy12.35/20
    • GENE0121-2Special medical genetics10.28/20
    • CAVS0120-6Multidisciplinary approach to the cardiovascular system11.77/20
    • IMMU0120-6Multidisciplinary approach to the blood system13.35/20
    • RESP0120-6Multidisciplinary approach to the respiratory system13.6/20
    • REIN0120-7Multidisciplinary approach to the nephrology and urinary system13.81/20
    • DERM0121-5Multidisciplinary approach to the cutaneous system11.33/20
    • DIGT0120-1Multidisciplinary approach to the digestive system11.75/20
    • PHYL0121-1Multidisciplinary approach of metabolic and endocrin system10.46/20
    • SEXL0120-1Multidisciplinary approach to the genital system10.73/20
    • APPR0141-1APP of the digestive, genital, metabolic and endocrinal systems12/20
    • MEDE0124-1Practical work of the digestive, genital and endocrine systems13.94/20
    • MEDE0125-1Practical work of the digestive, genital, cutaneous, metabolic and endocrine systems16/20
    • APPR0122-4Problem-based multidisciplinary learning technique14/20
    • MEDE0122-1Practical work in anatomy13.33/20
    • MEDE0123-1Practical work in histology10.32/20
  • Year 3
    • MICR0130-2Medical microbiology14/20
    • SBIM0490-1Clinical virology13/20
    • RBIO0130-1Radiobiology and radioprotection11.27/20
    • PSYC0120-1Introduction to medical psychology10.6/20
    • PSYC0130-2Introduction to psychopathology10.5/20
    • PHAC0130-1General pharmacology12.14/20
    • APPR0333-1Researching convincing information in the medical field18.25/20
    • PATH0132-1General principles of clinical diagnosis and of therapeutic10.09/20
    • PATH0133-1General principles of oncology11.25/20
    • PATH0134-1Pathology of the cardiovascular system11.45/20
    • PATH0135-1Pathology of the respiratory system10.63/20
    • PATH0136-1Integration of knowledge including training in clinical reasoning and diagnostic 14/20
    • MEDE0005-1Practical work in resuscitation15.07/20
    • MEGE1162-1Principles of General Medicine18/20
    • NERF0130-5Multidisciplinary approach to the nervous system10.21/20
    • LOCO0130-6Multidisciplinary approach to the musculoskeletal system11.11/20
    • IMMU0130-6Multidisciplinary approach to the immunological system13.58/20
    • PHYL0130-4Multidisciplinary approach to homeostasis10.71/20
    • APPR0001-3APP of the nervous and immunological systems, of the locomotor apparatus and homeostasis10/20
    • MEDE0002-1Practical work in anatomy of the musculoskeletal system12.22/20
    • MEDE0003-1Practical histology of sensory systems and the locomotor system12.08/20
    • MEDE0004-1Practical work of neuroanatomy11.5/20
    • MSTG3001-1Observation hospital internships20/20
    • MSTG3002-1Observation placements in medicine20/20
Diploma

/ projects

HBS tools
Developed in the framework of my master thesis, this tool provides semi-automated HepatoBilary Scintigraphy images processing and liver clearance rate quantification.
Python, PyQt5, PyDicom, scikit-image
Stroke prediction
Best performance award winning project devlopped during 2023 SDS Data Challenge. Prdicts stroke probability using stacked classifiers based on demographic variables.
Python, Dash, Plotly, Nginx, Uwsgi
PokerGPT
Started as a two players interface to play Texas Hold'em No Limit poker. Then, I used chatGPT API to automate oponent decisions.
Python, Tkinter, GhatGPT API
RNAseq pipeline
An nf-core compatible Nextflow pipeline for parallelized and containerized RNA-seq data processing on grid computing infrastructure.
Nextflow, Bash, Singularity, Slurm
PTF ecom
A Django based interface to manage and collect data from clients for different types of analysis.
Python, Django, html, js
Home patrol rover
A fully autonomous 3D printed rover platform with both autonomy and manual override (web control + FPV) including GPS/IMU, LIDAR and depth camera. Ongoing project ...
Python, ROS 2, OpenCV, Jetson nano