Episodes

  • Re-engineering Life with Dr. Qing Sun
    Oct 30 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots, everyone!

    In this episode, Samantha and Sarah talk to Dr. Qing Sun, one of our Genetics and Genomics Faculty members. Dr. Sun is an assistant professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University. She received her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware and did her postdoctoral training at the Synthetic Biology Center at MIT. Her lab uses synthetic biology to improve human health and the environment.

    If you want to know more about the research discussed in this episode or about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Sun Lab Website: https://qsunlab.com/

    Dr. Qing Sun’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=pEZ1tkEAAAAJ

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    50 mins
  • Growing Maize using Drones and AI with Dr. Seth Murray
    Sep 25 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots, everyone!

    In this episode, Sarah and Veronika talk to Dr. Seth Murray. Dr. Murray is a professor in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences and Eugene Butler Endowed Chair in Agricultural Biotechnology at Texas A&M University. He received his B.S. in Crop and Soil Science at Michigan State University and Ph.D. in Plant Breeding and Genetics at Cornell University. His research focuses on the breeding, quality, and genetics of maize (aka corn), and he is the founder and editor of the Plant Phenome Journal.


    If you want to know more about the research discussed in this episode or about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:


    Dr. Seth Murray bio: https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/people/murray-seth-c/

    The Plant Phenome Journal: https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/25782703?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9PwyaIH-uEoLMNYg5H3_rU12ZOqPSM3TnaIUkqKV-66Ey5_1VBZQZRoCtjsQAvD_BwE&utm_campaign=R3MR425&utm_content=LifeSciences&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_source=google

    Dr. Murray’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=o2U40BEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao


    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu



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    55 mins
  • SURGe into a Summer of Science
    Aug 28 2024

    Howdy, and welcome to Blue Genes and Boots everyone! In this episode, Sarah spoke with four undergraduates from universities across the county who participated in our Summer Undergraduate Research in Genetics and Genomics (SURGe) program.

    The National Science Foundation SURGe Program is a 10-week intensive research experience under the mentorship of one of our Faculty of Genetics and Genomics members that includes a 3-credit hour Bioinformatics class. The credits are transferable to their home institution. Additionally, students have weekly meetings to explore research and career opportunities in genetics and genomics, discuss research ethics, how to apply to graduate school, and learn practical oral and written presentation skills.

    Come listen in as we speak with Lance Nuique, Dante Lopez, Julia Hunter and Neryan Castrodad about their decision to apply, how their experience went in the program and where they'll go from here!

    If you'd like to learn more about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    39 mins
  • First Year in Review with Veronika and Charles
    Aug 1 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots everyone! In this episode, Anthony Matarazzo speaks with Veronika Mojik and Charles Mitchell, two current PhD students in the TAMUGENE program.

    Veronika obtained her undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina - Asheville and studies under Dr. Hubert Amrein. Charles' undergraduate studies were completed at The University of Texas - Dallas, and he is advised by Dr. Dmitry Kurouski.

    They've just finished up their first year of graduate studies and have got some great advice that you won't want to miss! Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy!

    If you'd like to learn more about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    54 mins
  • Kids and Camelids with Mayra Mendoza
    Jul 8 2024

    In this episode Veronika Mojik talks with third year PhD candidate Mayra Mendoza about what it's like to traverse graduate school while being a mom to two boys! They also discuss Mayra's research on the alpaca genome and the in's and out's of running a cytogenetic service lab within an academic setting.

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    35 mins
  • Dr. Jessica Light - Mammals, Morphology, and Mapping a Way through Graduate School
    May 29 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots, everyone!

    In this episode, Emmarie and Sarah talk to Dr. Jessica Light, a professor and curator of mammals in the Ecology and Conservation Biology department at Texas A&M University. She received her B.S. in Biology and Resource Ecology and Management at the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. in Zoology at Louisiana State University. Her lab uses molecular and morphological data to study the evolution of distantly related taxa, such as between mammals and their parasites.

    If you want to know more about the research discussed in this episode or about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Jessica Light: https://eccb.tamu.edu/people/light-jessica/

    Light Lab Website: https://lightjessica.weebly.com/

    Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=QVd0d7IAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Fossil Viruses and Genetic Conflicts with Dr. Harmit Malik
    May 1 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots, everyone!

    In this episode, Emmarie and Veronika talk to Dr. Harmit Malik, a professor and associate director of the Basic Science Division at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. He received his BTech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Rochester. His lab studies the evolution of genetic conflict in Drosophila, primates, and yeast, with a focus on centromeres, viruses, and mobile elements.

    If you want to know more about the research discussed in this episode or about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Dr. Harmit Malik’s bio: https://www.fredhutch.org/en/faculty-lab-directory/malik-harmit.html

    Dr. Malik’s lab website: https://research.fredhutch.org/malik/en.html

    Dr. Malik’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=68yAqOQAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    49 mins
  • Dr. Bruce Walsh - Math, Moths, and the Biology of Everything
    Mar 27 2024

    Welcome to Blue Genes and Boots, everyone!

    In this episode, Emmarie and Serina talk to Dr. Bruce Walsh. Dr. Walsh is an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology professor at the University of Arizona. He earned his Ph.D. in genetics at the University of Washington and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago and the University of California, Davis. His research uses mathematical models to better understand the evolution of genetics and complex traits.

    If you want to know more about the research discussed in this episode or about the Genetics program at Texas A&M, please visit the following websites:

    Dr. Bruce Walsh: https://eeb.arizona.edu/person/j-bruce-walsh

    Dr. Walsh’s Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=7iQEFwIAAAAJ&hl=en

    Genetics IDP: https://genetics.tamu.edu

    Genetics Graduate Student Association: https://g2sa.tamu.edu

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    49 mins