An undergraduate student intern will play a crucial role in the "Yoshino Sequencing Project," working directly under the guidance of both the Steinbrenner lab at UW Biology and a collaborating laboratory, the Harkess lab at HudsonAlpha (Huntsville, AL). The intern’s responsibilities will encompass various stages of the project, from sample collection to data analysis and outreach activities. The intern will be an upper-division Biology major recruited from the genetics and genomics courses taught by Professor Steinbrenner (BIOL400 / BIOL426). The intern will be paid a $5000 stipend to work full-time in the Steinbrenner lab in the summer of 2025.

If recruited before Fall 2024, the intern will assist in the collection of tissue samples from the cherry trees in the University of Washington Quad. This will involve careful documentation and handling of the samples to ensure their integrity for subsequent genomic analyses, in collaboration with UW Arborist Sara Shores. The intern will then participate in the preparation of high-molecular weight DNA isolations, a critical step that will be optimized with support from the Harkess lab. Quality control measures for both DNA and RNA isolations will be conducted to ensure the samples meet the standards required for sequencing.

In 2025, the intern will be involved in the genome assembly process. They will work with data generated by the Harkess lab, learning to assemble and annotate the genomes of the cherry trees. This hands-on experience will be supplemented by support from Austin Osmanski, a dedicated project manager provided by the Harkess lab through the National Science Foundation CAREER award funding the American Campus Tree Genomes (ACTG) project. Dr. Osmanski will serve as a pseudo-TA, modifying existing course material to align with the project's needs and providing approximately 40 total hours of instructional support.

The intern's role will also extend to the educational and outreach components of the project. They will help develop materials such as flyers, billboards, and presentations to communicate the findings of the Yoshino Sequencing Project to the public. These outreach efforts will be particularly focused on the annual cherry blossom event, where the intern will assist in delivering presentations and engaging with visitors. This aspect of the role will provide the intern with valuable experience in science communication and public engagement, enhancing their overall educational experience. The student will work directly with contacts already established by Prof. Steinbrenner, including volunteers at the Brockman Campus Tree Tour, Courtney Coster of the UW Visitor Center and Sara Shores of the UW Campus Grounds team to coordinate these efforts.

Through their involvement in the Yoshino Sequencing Project, the student intern will gain comprehensive training in genomic research, from sample collection and DNA isolation to data analysis and public outreach. This multidisciplinary experience will not only contribute to the success of the project but also equip the intern with a diverse skill set applicable to their future scientific endeavors.