BSA Member Spotlight

Jacqui Milton

jacqui

Jacqui was nominated to the Member Spotlight for her participation in GSI and her experience with authorship and publications, since our theme for November is “Getting Published”!

Here is our Q and A with Jacqui:

Could you please describe in more detail your experience with GSI?  What is it?  How did you get involved?

J: The Genome Science Institute is a part of BUMC; their goal is to promote understanding of genetics in human health.  I’ve been attending their seminar series for the past three years and have been involved in their Next Generation Sequencing Working group for over a year.  They have an annual research symposium and this year my principal investigator and advisor thought it would be a good idea for me to participate.

What is your most recent publication?  What do you consider your best publication to date?

J: This is a two way tie.  I have two publications coming out around the same time that would qualify as my best.  In one publication I examined genetic associations of hyperbilirubenemia in sickle cell patients and explored its relation to cholelithiasis.  I got to work on developing new methodology and I really learned a lot more about the pathophysiology behind sickle cell disease.  Plus, the paper had 20 other co-authors so I got a lot of good experience on collaborating with others.  The second publication involves work on my first next gen sequencing project.  It was really exciting to learn about the new technology.

For you, what was the hardest part about authoring and publishing?

J: On one of the last papers I published there were 20 other authors.  The editing took forever.  Everyone has their own idea on how the paper should flow and how to fix different things.  You have to learn how to incorporate everyone’s comments.

What is your degree program / year at BU?

J: I just started my fourth year in the PhD program at BU.

What is your favorite course you’ve taken in the program? Why?

J: BS 853.  It introduces a wide range of different approaches to modeling and has a good balance of theory and application.

What is the best piece of advice you have for new students in the program?

J: Take advantage of all the opportunities that this program!  There’s consulting, teaching/TAing, the BSA, etc.  Being successful in this program is so much more than just coursework.

Tell us one interesting face about yourself.

J: I was a competitive gymnast for 10 years.

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Thanks, Jacqui!

If you’d like to nominate someone for the BSA spotlight please email us at bubsa@bu.edu.