Cal State Fullerton has been awarded a $1.5 million National Institutes of Health grant to create a program designed to help students dive into the fascinating world of genomics and build diversity in the field.
The grant funds “Project EAGER: Enabling Access to Genomics Experience and Research,” which allows undergraduate students to work on cutting-edge research in genomics and related fields like computational biology and bioinformatics, said Nikolas Nikolaidis, project director and professor of biological science.
Genomics is a branch of science that explores genes and how they influence health, disease and even individual traits. The project partners with renowned genomics researchers at UC Berkeley, where CSUF students will conduct summer research.
“Students will participate in research projects ranging from analyzing large genomic datasets to studying the evolutionary history of genes across species,” said Nikolaidis, an expert in bioinformatics and molecular evolutionary biology, which are critical components of genomics research.
“This hands-on experience will allow students to apply their classroom knowledge to real-world scientific problems.”
The program begins this fall to recruit diverse and underrepresented students majoring in biological science, mathematics, computer science and public health interested in genomics and computational biology.
Eight students will be selected each year and receive a stipend of $7,200 to cover housing and food at UC Berkeley, as well as paid travel expenses to attend an NIH research conference. Students will enroll in preparatory coursework at CSUF this academic year and begin research experiences at UC Berkeley next summer.
The project is funded through the NIH National Human Genome Research Institute’s Genome Research Experiences to Attract Talented Undergraduates into Genomic Fields to Enhance Diversity. The university is receiving $236,349 in first-year funding for the five-year grant.
Co-directing the project are CSUF’s Joshua Der, associate professor of biological science, an expert in population genetics and evolutionary genomics; Sam Behseta, professor of mathematics and 2022 Outstanding Professor; and Jessica Jaynes, associate professor of mathematics and director of the Center for Computational and Applied Mathematics.
Behseta and Jaynes are experts in statistics and data science. Through Project EAGER, students will have the chance to acquire fundamental knowledge and skills required for entering the workforce, with a focus on evolution, genomics and data science, Jaynes said.
“Data science and computational knowledge are indispensable for managing, analyzing and extracting meaningful insights from genomic data, which is fundamental to advancing research and applications in genomics,” she added.
John Huelsenbeck and Doris Bachtrog, professors of integrative biology at UC Berkeley, also are co-leading the project. Huelsenbeck has developed models and computational tools that allow researchers to understand the processes driving genetic diversity. Bachtrog, an evolutionary geneticist, has made fundamental contributions to understanding the evolution of sex chromosomes.
Students participating in the project will gain a foundational understanding of genetics and DNA, which are the building blocks of genomics.
While genetics focuses on studying individual genes and their roles in inheritance, genomics is broader. Nikolaidis explained that the discipline examines the entirety of an organism’s genome, including how genes interact with each other and the environment.
“Students will gain valuable skills, experience and knowledge, including how personal genomes can lead to personalized medicine,” Nikolaidis said. “In today’s world, understanding DNA — the blueprint of life — can lead to breakthroughs in personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup.”
Project EAGER also aims to prepare students for advanced degrees and careers in science and medicine that could change the future of health care.
“By encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to explore genomics and its applications, Project EAGER promotes diversity in science, leading to more inclusive and innovative solutions for health care and beyond,” Nikolaidis said.
For more information or to participate in Project EAGER, contact Jaynes at jjaynes@fullerton.edu.