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Natalie R

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)

Expertise

genetics, genomics, genome organization, adaptive immune system, genome sequencing technologies

Bio

Since high school I have found genetics to be so interesting and wanted to know more about it. This led me to getting a degree in bioinformatics from the University of Pittsburgh, in order to utilize computational analyses to study genetic sequencing data. Currently, I am at UNC studying how the genome is organized in the nucleus to allow for proper transcriptional programs and cellular function. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends, watching movies, and traveling. I love being close to the Carolina mountains, and hiking there in the fall is one of my favorite things to do. As a summer job throughout college I worked at a local zoo, so I love learning facts about animals and supporting conservation efforts.

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

The Wild, Wild West of Genomic Data Analyses

As it gets cheaper to do genomic sequencing, more researchers are utilizing it to answer the biological questions they are asking. While the process of producing the data is well established, the analysis of the different datasets is less established. The ENCODE project is one way that the field has tried to normalize genomic data analysis, though not everyone follows their guidelines. In addition, there are constantly new techniques arising that require new analyses programs. Write a review about the different computational resources available for analyzing genomic sequencing data.

Coding skills

python, java, R

Teaching experience

I was a graduate teaching assistant for an upper level biology course at UNC-CH. As a TA I helped groups of students form a question based on the course work and present a project about how they would approach answering their question. In addition, I have mentored undergraduates and graduate students in the lab.

Credentials

Work experience

University of Pittsburgh -- School of Medicine (2017 - 2019)
Research Technician and Data Analyst

Education

University of Pittsburgh
BS Bachelor of Science (2017)
Bioinformatics
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (UNC Chapel Hill)
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Genetics and Molecular Biology

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