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Focusing on applying genome-wide association study methods to understand the genetics of complex traits like height, BMI, depression and alcohol use. We use a variety of statistical and computational approaches to identify genes that influence these traits, understand the molecular pathways in which those genes operate, determine genetic relationships among the traits, and predict trait values in external samples.  

Prerequisites: Coursework - Calculus Series, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, & Chemistry; Rising Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors
Department: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Institute for Behavioral Genetics (IBG)

This project will use observational data and/or output from climate models to quantify the impact of southern hemisphere mid-latitude cyclones on physical properties such as temperature and salinity and biogeochemical properties such as oxygen and acidity, in the Southern Ocean.  

Prerequisites: Coursework - R coding is a must, knowledge of command line usage (linux/unix) is a big plus. Basic statistical knowledge is necessary (linear regression). Interest in genetics is necessary, but detailed knowledge of the methods, traits, and specific approaches can be learned during the summer; Rising Juniors & Seniors
Department: Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

We study human and mouse transcription and the control of gene expression by microRNAs.  We use approaches ranging from cell-based genome-wide assays, to biochemistry, and single molecule fluorescence.  The specific project will depend on student interests and research going on at the time the SMART Program starts.

Prerequisites: Rising Juniors & Seniors Only
Department: Biochemistry, Biophysics

Cells utilize transcription factors to orchestrate when and where transcription occurs. When a cell encounters a new stimulus in its environment, it can quickly respond by using stimulus-responsive transcription factors to temporarily change its transcriptional program. This project will look at the dynamics of these stimulus-responsive transcription factors. It will test the hypothesis that the mRNA transcripts coding for stimulus-responsive transcription factors don't persist as long in the cell as those of other transcription factors, and that this is a mechanism the cell uses to ensure its response is transient. This is a computational project and will be completed using bioinformatics and statistical methods. 

Prerequisites: None
Department: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, BioFrontiers Institute

Approximating derivatives is well-understood in 1D. In higher dimensions, if one can choose the sampling points, then error decays quadratically in the spacing; but if one cannot choose the sampling points, error decays only linearly. We will investigate a processing technique that might achieve quadratic error given arbitrary points.

Prerequisites: Coursework - Linear algebra (SVD, eigenvalues). Numerical analysis is helpful but not necessary. Rising Juniors & Seniors Only
Department: Applied Mathematics