I am currently a 2nd year PhD student in the Integrative Genetics and Genomics Graduate group at the University of California, Davis in the lab of Fereydoun Hormozdiari. I am studying the prediction of the effects of rare variation on neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Specifically, I study the genetic basis of comorbid epilepsy phenotypes in NDDs, the prediction (prioritization) of pathogenicity of missense variants of uncertain significance, and early prediction of NDDs via computational approaches. After graduation, I hope to work in a research institute or industry as a bioinformatician to continue to study genotype-phenotype associations in humans.
Understanding of biological principles has been useful for experimental design and interpretation of computational predictions. Some of the most valuable aspects of the Biology and other department curriculums were the emphasis on the communication of scientific results, presentation skills, and full lab reports requiring integration of primary literature. The varied core curriculum that included taking subjects such as computer science, chemistry, and physics alongside students from other departments was also valuable for understanding and appreciation of multiple interrelated scientific fields.
There are many faculty looking for dedicated undergraduates to work in their labs for experience. If you want to go to grad school to do research, it is probably best to accumulate as much research experience as possible through working with faculty at Tech and by doing multiple summer internships. Cultivating good relationships with faculty is very important for your future ability to apply to jobs, schools, and other opportunities that require strong letters of recommendation. There are also many clubs and organizations to join at Tech that could be relevant to your future field. It is better to be committed to a few organizations for the long term, rather than many organizations for the short term. As for courses, it is good to take courses that appear challenging and courses that are interesting to you outside of the School of Biological Sciences. Taking a minor is good exposure to some of the core classes of other departments, especially if you are planning to enter an interdisciplinary field. For instance, I think it would be useful to take statistics with the Math department or programing with the Computer Science department. It is possible to take only easy classes and earn A's, but you would miss many opportunities to learn from excellent faculty. There may be no other time when you have the opportunity to learn these things.
