Project:	Analysis Pipelines for Profiling Glycans in Single Cells
Disciplines:	Data Science, chemistry, chemical biology, bioinformatics, computer science, biotechnology
Mentor:	Linda Hsieh-Wilson, Dr., (CCE), lhw@caltech.edu, Phone: 626-395-6101
Mentor URL:	http://hsiehwilsonlab.caltech.edu/  (opens in new window)
Background:	The brain is a highly complex organ, comprised of many different cell types and subclasses of cells. Our understanding of this cellular complexity has rapidly expanded with the advent of single-cell methods such as single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Single cell methods have been powerful in advancing our understanding of genetic molecular signatures, however, analogous methods to examine the glycan molecular signature of single cells have been lacking. Our lab has expanded our chemoenzymatic labeling strategies to specifically detect and profile the glycan signature of individual cells. In multiplexing with scRNA-seq, thus classifying cells by both gene expression and glycan expression profiles, we identify specific glycan structures, biosynthesis enzymes, glycoproteins, binding proteins, and cell types that contribute to brain processes such as learning, memory, and disease.
Description:	Computer science/bioinformatics research opportunity for an undergraduate student in the Hsieh-Wilson group: The student will be writing code and developing workflows to process large, multimodal datasets generated from single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments. An existing preliminary workflow, which the student will receive training on, will be used as a starting point. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in computer science with interest in chemical biology and bioinformatics. Proficiency in Python required, proficiency in R is a plus. The names of specific programs the student will be expected to work with are available on request.
Student Requirements:	Completion of BE/Bi 103a is helpful, but not required.
Programs:	This AO can be done under the following programs:   Program    Available To        SURF    Caltech students only  Click on a program name for program info and application requirements.