Research Assistant
CurrentResearch Assistant at Brigham Young University, Lab of Dr. Stephen PiccoloIn my role as a research assistant, I focus on computational bioinformatics research within a collaborative lab setting. Our team aims to enhance data interoperability and reusability for Down syndrome transcriptomic datasets. Utilizing the FAIR Guiding Principles, I work primarily in R to develop scripts that enable streamlined access and preparation of RNA expression and DNA methylation data.Key responsibilities include:- Writing reproducible scripts to download, process, and reformat molecular datasets, ensuring they meet high standards of accessibility and quality.- Employing techniques such as background noise adjustment, gene annotation updates, and metadata mapping with ontologies (Experimental Factor Ontology and Mondo Ontology).- Collaborating with a larger lab group and contributing to data-sharing initiatives through the INCLUDE Data Coordinating Center.Our work ultimately supports researchers in the Down syndrome community, accelerating discovery and advancing understanding of the condition's molecular mechanisms.
