I got hired by a professor at Mason and I think I'm going to like this job. I am really interested in his research because it brings together my previous love for biology with my newly found computer science. Also on top of that, this is my first job ever. The paperwork with HR was more nerve-racking than I imagined but it is worth it because I'll get paid doing something I am truly going to enjoy.
As a first project, the professor wanted me to learn some applicable skills on my own by analyzing a data set called the Acid Mine Drainage data set. It contains sequence data (DNA sequences) regarding the biofilm located in an acidic mine located in California. First I had to actually find the data set (this took the most amount of time this week). Then I have to put the sequences through several databases such as Greengenes, Silva, and others. This gave me pretty interesting results but now my job is to figure out how the bacteria the sequences were similar to correlate with the metadata or conditions the data was collected. Cool isn't it?
I sure am excited for another week at this job. I have to discuss what I found with the professor on Tuesday but I think I am going to have a lot to say because I get to draw on my knowledge in Biology. Woo!!
As a first project, the professor wanted me to learn some applicable skills on my own by analyzing a data set called the Acid Mine Drainage data set. It contains sequence data (DNA sequences) regarding the biofilm located in an acidic mine located in California. First I had to actually find the data set (this took the most amount of time this week). Then I have to put the sequences through several databases such as Greengenes, Silva, and others. This gave me pretty interesting results but now my job is to figure out how the bacteria the sequences were similar to correlate with the metadata or conditions the data was collected. Cool isn't it?
I sure am excited for another week at this job. I have to discuss what I found with the professor on Tuesday but I think I am going to have a lot to say because I get to draw on my knowledge in Biology. Woo!!
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