Addison Yam: Population Genomics of Great Lakes Fishes

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This project involved using long-read genome sequencing and population genomic analyses to study genetic variation within and among populations of fishes across the Great Lakes, with practical aspects related to conservation of biodiversity. Through learning how to properly assemble genomes, Addison developed confidence in the lab as well as essential critical thinking and problem solving skills. Here is what Addison had to say about the experience:

What I Did:

"Through my project 'Population Genomics of Great Lakes Fishes,' I was responsible for becoming familiar with and performing each step of the process of assembling genomes. To summarize the process of assembling genomes, we sequence physical DNA to a digital file of reads (sequences of bases), several reads form contigs, and several contigs form scaffolds/chromosomes. My impacts involved benefiting the lab as I shared feedback on the quality of different tools I utilized as well as conservational efforts as we assembled genomes of endangered species."

What I Learned:

"My independence is my biggest accomplishment as I came in thinking I'd need my hand held, but I've progressed to this point because I learned different tools/methods and became familiar with understanding complex mechanisms. Skills I developed were critical thinking, problem-solving, and technology as I had to assess the situation and adjust myself at each computational tool. The biggest takeaway was I really value a collaborative lab, so when looking into labs for graduate school, I'll be interviewing labs prioritizing collaboration essentially benefiting my academic goals. Several undergraduates should get involved in projects like this because they'll learn several career skills while challenging themselves to be their best selves"