Northwest Genomics Center
University of Washington September 2021 — Present
Research Science Engineer II
Team Lead – Library Prep
Keywords: Genomics, automated liquid handling systems, robotics, biomedical sequencing library, team lead, standard operating procedures
Following my graduation from Iowa State University in 2020, I made the transition from the Midwest to Seattle, WA to begin working at the University of Washington Northwest Genomic Center (NWGC) as a Research Scientist Engineer II. For over 20 years, our lab conducted research under the guidance of a pioneer in the field of genetics, Dr. Debbie Nickerson. After her passing last year, we have been continuing her research and running the genome center under the supervision of two internationally recognized PIs: Dr. Evan Eichler and Dr. Gail Jarvik. The NWGC is mainly supported by the NIH-funded All of Us Research Program in a consortium with four other research facilities, and the NHLBI Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program.
Our research is focused on the intersection of environmental, lifestyle, and biological factors that affect upwards of 60 mendelian conditions (MC) and rare diseases. Through the sequencing of one million people of various and underrepresented backgrounds for the All of Us Program, we are developing, capturing, and characterizing the genomic architecture of pathogenic non-coding variants and establishing a thorough biomedical library. My central role at the NWGC is constructing libraries for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) of DNA, RNA, and exonic regions. By utilizing several automated liquid handling robotics such as Perkin Elmer Janus G3 and Sciclone systems, my team can optimize the construction of quality libraries that are leading to cutting-edge research discoveries in genetic diseases. This data provides more detailed results to the medical community and, most importantly, individuals seeking personalized medicine therapies.
In 2021, I became the Team Lead of Library Construction, where I entirely reorganized the workspace to optimize efficiency and workflow for my team. Actions to achieve this included drawing standard operating procedures (SOPs) as a visual reference fitted with drawings, diagrams, and colors corresponding to particular reagents. Visual SOPs reduced our reliance on long protocols and searching for answers in an ocean of text when time is of the essence. I am delighted to be playing a large part in the development of our lab by creating and modifying SOPs, as well as participating in the interviewing, hiring, and training of new personnel. As Team Lead, I train my employees to produce quality genomic libraries in a high-throughput lab, manage inventory of our consumables, and present weekly updates to our production team and management.
