Undergraduate Training Program
DEADLINE: February 2
As agencies increasingly demand a workforce that can apply genomics techniques in management practices; education and training in this multi-disciplinary field must begin at the undergraduate level.
Following a successful interview, undergraduate students will begin working with graduate student mentors and two host laboratories (O’Neill and Wegrzyn) to select a species of local conservation concern. The selected species will be analyzed through the entire workflow - genome assembly/annotation, variant detection, and population genetics. The rotations will be hosted during the academic year and will include financial support over winter break. During this time, each student will be specifically mentored in developing a proposal, such as SURF, to continue their research during the summer. In addition to the skill development associated with proposal writing, these applications will be co-reviewed before submission with government and NGO partners responsible for conservation management.
Members of the 2023 BCG Cohort. Left to right; top row: Cynthia Webster, Karl Fetter, Cristopher Guzman, Emily Strickland, Harshita Akella, Amanda Mueller, Stefan Wnuk, Jill Wegrzyn, Michelle Neitzey; bottom row: Keertana Chagari, Laurel Humphrey, David Baukus, Emily Trybulec, Anthony He, Owen McEwing.
2025 Internship Schedule:
| Session | Internship | Modality | Time commitment | Pay / Credits |
| Summer 2025 | Training | In-person | 10-20 hours/week | Pay |
| Fall 2025 | Research | In-person | In-person meeting 1x/week 10-15 hours/week |
3 EEB/MCB Research Credits or Pay |
| Fall 2025 | Conservation Genomics Journal Club | In-person | 1 hour meeting + reading / week | 1 EEB/MCB Seminar Credit |
| Winter 2026 | UConn SURF Proposal Preparation | Online | Due end of January | |
| Spring 2026 | Research | In-person | In-person meeting 1x/week 10-15 hours/week |
3 EEB/MCB Research Credits or Pay |
| Summer 2026 | Research (if SURF award received) | TBD | Full time (30-40 hours/week) | Stipend (~$4,000) |
Intern Testimonials:
“Working with the conservation genomics team has helped me immensely, especially when it comes to personal goals. Beyond learning wet and dry bench skills, I feel that our team creates a great support system that is preparing me for graduate school, helping me write grant proposals, and expanding my skills. And it doesn't hurt that everyone is friendly!”
"Being a part of the Conservation Genomics Center has been a well-rounded opportunity for me to dive into research and propel my bioinformatics skills. The cohesion of working collaboratively within the team and working independently on the project allowed me to advance skills beyond science, in areas such as communication, critical thinking, and time management. The projects are relevant to our current biodiversity crisis and feel impactful outside of the University which is a fulfilling experience!"
“As a member of the conservation genomics team, working with my colleagues has been an incredible experience! Not only have they helped me develop my technical skills, but I've also gained a network of amazing friends and mentors. Learning from experienced researchers has been especially helpful in preparing for my future academic pursuits, like graduate school and job opportunities. On top of that, my colleagues and mentors have taught me so much about complex scientific ideas, how to ask insightful questions, and even allowed me to develop my creativity. I've also gained valuable experience in genome assembly and annotation, among other highly in-demand technical skills. But what sets our team apart is the supportive and collaborative atmosphere we've created. Coming to work every day is not only productive, but it's also a lot of fun!”
Species of Interest:
2024-2025
Riftia pachyptila(giant tubeworm)
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Riftia pachyptila is a species of tube worm that thrives in the extreme environment of hydrothermal vent ecosystems along the ocean floor. Known for its remarkable adaptations to these harsh conditions, it has evolved a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria that live in its specialized trophosome. These bacteria convert the chemicals found in vent fluids, such as hydrogen sulfide, into organic compounds that the worm uses for nutrition. The red plumes of Riftia pachyptila are rich in hemoglobin, enabling efficient oxygen and sulfide transport, vital for its survival in oxygen-poor and sulfur-rich vent waters. This organism plays a key role in the vent ecosystem and is a model organism for studying deep-sea adaptations and symbiosis.
Sequencing Method: Oxford Nanopore and PacBio |
Tevnia jerichonana(giant tubeworm)
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Tevnia jerichonana is a species of deep-sea tube worm that inhabits hydrothermal vent ecosystems found in the east Pacific rise. Like its close relative Riftia pachyptila, T. jerichonana forms a symbiotic relationship with chemosynthetic bacteria, which convert the vent's hydrogen sulfide and other chemicals into organic compounds that nourish the worm. This mutualistic partnership is crucial for the worm’s survival in the extreme conditions of the hydrothermal vent, where sunlight is absent, and temperatures can reach over 100°C.
Sequencing Method: Oxford Nanopore and PacBio |
2023-2024
Juglans ailantifolia(Japanese walnut)
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Juglans ailantifolia, commonly referred to as Japanese walnut or Japanese heartnut, belongs to the walnut family and is native to Japan, Korea, and China. It is recognized for its unique heart-shaped nuts and ornamental value. Unlike its North American cousin, Juglans cinerea, which faces endangerment due to the devastating effects of the invasive fungus Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum (OC-J) causing butternut canker, Juglans ailantifolia has been found to exhibit some resistance to this destructive pathogen.
Sequencing Method: Oxford Nanopore |
Fraxinus profunda(pumpkin ash)
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Pumpkin Ash (Fraxinus profunda) is listed as a critically endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), threatened mainly by the Emerald Ash Borer pest spreading rapidly throughout North America. Sequencing of DNA and high quality genome assembly can provide useful information that can improve conservation efforts and support breeding programs. Due to varying resistance to emerald ash borer across ash species, assembling and annotation of a reference genome for each species can help conservation efforts to answer a range of questions and provide genetic information about the species, disease risk, or evolution.
Sequencing Method: Oxford Nanopore |
2022-2023
Juglans cinerea(butternut)
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Juglans cinerea, commonly known as butternut or white walnut, is a member of the walnut family, native to Eastern United States and Southeastern Canada. The species is currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List due to an invasive fungus known as Ophiognomonia clavigignenti-juglandacearum (OC-J) that causes butternut canker. SCJ creates visible sores on the trunks of the tree which essentially starves and slowly kills the tree. Natural resistance to this pathogen is thought to be rare and resistance has only been confirmed in hybrids with Juglans ailantifolia. The conservation of butternut is of utmost priority due to its critical ecosystem role and cultural significance.
Publication: https://doi.org/10.1093/g3journal/jkad189 Sequencing Method: Oxford Nanopore |
Questions?
Conservation Genomics Seminar
Both technological and analytic advances have allowed the use of genomic tools to address questions in conservation. We can now examine thousand of markers, examine gene expression profiles, and assess epigenetic signals to identify loci with adaptive potential (and understand their regulation).
In this seminar, we discuss some of the challenges, study designs, and analytic tools used in conservation genomics. These discussions will be focused around a weekly paper - we welcome advanced undergraduates, graduate students, postdocs, staff, and faculty!