The Genomics Research Program at Trinity is a selective program that engages students in individual biological research beginning with their first semester of college. Developed in affiliation with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's SEA-PHAGES initiative, the program focuses on the discovery and characterization of previously unknown viruses that infect the bacterium Mycobacterium smegmatis, a harmless relative of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The M. smegmatis bacterium is safe to work with and yet allows students to study a virus that could potentially attack the causative agent of tuberculosis.
Each student in Trinity's Genomics Research Program will:
Discover and describe a virus new to science.
Apply genomics research methods to characterize new viral genes.
Share findings nation-wide with other students in the HHMI National Genome Research Initiative.
There are five courses in the Genomics Research Program, finishing with a sophomore seminar that explores research throughout the wide range of biology. The program is compatible with all majors. Participation is by invitation; please contact Prof. Kathleen Archer for more information.