Dr. Monkol Lek

Associate Professor

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Biography

Monkol Lek received his undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering in 2000 from the University of New South Wales (UNSW). He worked at IBM for 3.5 years before returning to UNSW, where he completed undergraduate degrees in Science (Physiology) and Engineering (Bioinformatics), receiving the University Medal in 2007. In 2012, he completed his PhD in Medicine at the University of Sydney with a thesis on the functional differences between alpha-actinin-2 and alpha-actinin-3. Monkol underwent post-doctoral training in Daniel MacArthur's lab at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, as well as at the Broad Institute. He was the lead author and analyst for the Exome Aggregation Consortium (ExAC) project, published in Nature in 2016. He then led the NIH-funded Broad Center for Mendelian Genomics (CMG) analysis team, overseeing analysis strategies for various major collaborations. Monkol has a strong passion for research in rare muscle diseases, specifically Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD2G). At the Broad Institute, he led exome/genome analyses for international cohorts, resulting in novel disease gene discoveries.

Research Interests

Experience

Associate Professor

2025-07-01 — Present

Yale School of Medicine • New Haven, CT

Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics, focusing on research and education.

Senior Research Fellow

2017-01-01 — 2025-06-30

Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard • Cambridge, MA

Conducted research in genomic analysis and rare disease.

Post-doctoral Fellow

2016-01-01 — 2017-01-01

Harvard Medical School • Boston, MA

Post-doctoral research with a focus on genetic disorders.

Awards

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University Medal

2008-03-01
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CJ Martin Fellowship

2013-06-01
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Sir Keith Murdoch Fellowship

2012-08-01
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Australian Post-graduate Award

2009-03-01

Requirements for Yale University

Doctorate Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3.5
GRE General
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Speaking
Required:26
Total
Required:100
IELTS
Speaking
Required:7.5
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Computer Science, or Mathematics
Application Checklist
  • Statement of academic purpose
  • Unofficial transcripts
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Application fee ($105)
  • Resume/CV
Specialization Notes

Administered via the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS). GRE General is optional for PhD.