With his publications exceeding over 200 and his citations being recorded approximately 70,000 times, Holt earned a position in the top 1% of Web of Science cited researchers by Clarivate Analytics in 2018 and 2019.
After earning an undergraduate degree (BSc) in General Science from the University of British Columbia in 1992, he studied neuroscience and pharmacology under the supervision of Drs.
He undertook postdoctoral research at the State University of New York in Albany with Dr. Caro-Beth Stewart, where he used rapid DNA sequencing techniques to study molecular evolution in primates.
After his brief postdoctoral research program he joined Dr. Craig Venter's team at Celera Genomics, as the production manager for DNA sequencing operations.
He leads one of six work-packages in a newly awarded Cancer Research UK Grand Challenges grant where their international team will interrogate Fn biology comprehensively in global cohorts and model systems.
His group pioneered decoding immune repertoire by deep sequencing,[6] opening a fast-developing field [7][8] encompassing numerous biotechnology companies, holding international meetings and establishing a scientific society mainly focused on this methodology.