NATIONAL CENTER FOR GENOME RESOURCES

The National Center for Genome Resources (NCGR) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is an independent, nonprofit research institution that develops and uses informatics for biological discovery. Research will be in the general area of bioinformatics and will include such topics as DNA sequence mapping, development of genetic markers, characterization and mapping of chromosomal insertions, protein homology modeling, as well as use and development of bioinformatics tools for comparative and functional genomics. Interns will work closely with graduate students, postdoctoral research associates, senior scientists and other personnel.

• PROJECT:

  The bioinformatics intern will assist with the interpretation and import of soybean physical map and sequence data into the Legume Information System (LIS: http://www.comparative-legumes.org). The Legume Information System (LIS) is a publicly accessible legume resource that integrates genetic and molecular data from multiple legume species and enables cross-species genomic, transcript and map comparisons. The intent of the LIS is to help researchers leverage data-rich model plants to fill knowledge gaps across crop plant species and provide the ability to traverse between interrelated data types. In general, duties include analysis and data management of physical maps and BAC end sequences. The intern will provide biological expertise to guide software development, and may be called upon to perform other coding or analysis duties in support of deadlines and deliverables.

LIS interns may also be tasked with the evaluation of the LIS user interface for usability by biological researchers. An understanding of tools used for sequence analysis, gene prediction, and motif prediction will be learned. Additional responsibilities may also include assistance with data quality and validation.