More than 200 participants connected virtually for the 2022 Genomics in Action (GIA) conference, on Jan. 26-28. The event, sponsored by the Bioinformatics and Genomics Track of the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program, featured the work of 16 guest speakers, an alumni panel, and virtual research poster sessions with current program students.
The science at GIA reflects the current bioinformatic trends that have significantly evolved since the first event seven years ago. GIA showcases the breadth and scope of the scientific impacts that a career in bioinformatics can make, from basic discovery to clinical research.
“It’s so rewarding to bring the partner and program alumni together and introduce them to our newest cohort of students,” said Dr. Stacey Wagner, director of the bioinformatics and genomics program. “The students have already had a taste of the problem solving and project management they’ll encounter in their upcoming internships from their team projects, which they presented during the poster sessions.”
Participants also had access to virtual informational and networking sessions, including a workshop on how to use the UCSC Genome Browser, hosted by alum Lou Nassar, 2018.
This year’s event featured the work of experts from industrial, national, and academic labs including Illumina, Oregon Health and Science University, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Salish Bioscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Virginia Commonwealth University, Providence Health and Services, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Phase Genomics, Johannes Gutenberg University, and EPPIcenter: UCSF.
“Genomics in Action was exciting on many fronts. Not only did we have the opportunity to learn about the stories and the science behind amazing research, but we also had a chance to turn the tables and share our own projects and perspectives with prospective employers in our field,” said Thai Nguyen, a current bioinformatics student at the Knight Campus. “There’s something incredibly rewarding about the kind of open discourse encouraged at Genomics in Action, and I look forward to attending the conference in the future.”
Nguyen is part of a cohort of 25 students who will soon be starting their 9-months long paid internships, many of them with partners featured in GIA.
To learn more about industry and academic leaders that support this conference, visit Genomics in Action. https://genomics.uoregon.edu/