NSU Genomics Core Facility

 

Bojie Dai, Ph.D. (left) and Morgan Allerton-Minnis (right) support the Geonomics Core Facility at NSU, which is housed in the Center for Collaborative Research (CCR) building. This core facility is one of a suite of cores that support research projects both on and off campus.

 

What roles do you play at NSU?

Bojie: I am the Genomics Core Manager at NSU. I oversee the operations of the core, including sample preparation, library construction, data generation, data processing, and interpretation of results. I help ensure a high level of quality and reliability of all generated results. I have expertise in the latest genomics technologies—Next-Generation Sequencing and Single Cell Sequencing—and application of these technologies for basic and translational research.

Researchers can come to me with a research project idea, and I can help advise with regards to experimental design and method development. And then I provide a quote for the requested services. Once the quote is approved by the researcher, Morgan and I carry out the desired methods and send the report and data to the researcher. I can also provide comprehensive data analysis and interpretation of the high-throughput genomic data generated within the core.

Moreover, I can provide quotes and letters of support for PIs who are writing grant applications. In addition, I can provide descriptions of technologies and methods for use of our genomics core facility for PIs’ grant application. We are open to research collaborations.

Morgan: I am Bojie’s assistant, working on both the front- and back-end to support operation of the core. At the start of a project, I order supplies and do quality control of submitted samples to ensure they are suitable for the project and the expected output. Once the project is underway, I prepare libraries from RNA samples and check the library quality. I also conduct regular maintenance of the equipment to ensure proper functioning.

 

Tell me more about the capabilities and equipment in the Genomics Core Facility.

NSU Genomic Core’s main mission is to help facilitate cutting-edge genomics research by providing rapid high-throughput sequencing services in a cost-effective way. Our core is equipped with Illumina NextSeq 500 high-throughput sequencing systems, 10X Genomics Single Cell Solution, Agilent 4200 TapeStation, Qubit 3.0 Fluorospectrometer, Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer, Roche LightCycler 480, Covaris M220 Focused-ultrasonicator, and a NanoString’s nCounter Analysis System.

We provide a wide array of services that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • DNA/RNA extraction & purification from blood, cultured cells, and animal tissue
  • DNA/RNA quality control using Bioanalyzer, TapeStation, Qubit and qPCR
  • Real-Time PCR using Roche LightCycler 480
  • Sequencing Library generation, validation & quantification
  • Next-Generation Sequencing using the Illumina NextSeq 500 platform
  • Single Cell Sequencing using 10x Genomics’ Chromium platform
  • Multiplexed digital profiling of single target molecules using NanoString’s nCounter technology

We also provide data analysis service for the data generated within our core.

 

 

What type of research does this support?

These genomics technologies may benefit many fields of research, including basic and translational research. For example, we can use Next-Generation sequencing for transcriptome analysis during disease onset and progression, molecular diagnostics of genetic diseases, drug development, identification of novel pathogens, etc. Different types of sequencing may be used for different research purposes.

 

What brought you to be interested in this work?

Bojie: Prior to coming to NSU, I was an Assistant Professor of Research at the University of Oklahoma. I have over 19 years of experience in research laboratories, collaborating with other scientists and have received research grants myself as a PI. I have published 34 original papers including nine as first author and two as co-corresponding author. Some of the papers were published in prestigious journals such as Nature Communications, Cancer Cell, Cancer Research, and Oncogene.

What brought me to NSU is that I very much enjoy genomics and these amazing technologies. These powerful tools can help researchers improve the quality, cost effectiveness, data output and speed in genomic analyses, and I enjoy consulting to meet each researcher’s individual needs with experimental design and optimal technology.

Morgan: My background includes a BS in zoology and an AAS in veterinary technology. Prior to joining the core I was working in viviariums in New York City, where I was involved in cancer research, and also doing veterinary lab work in hospitals. What attracted me to NSU was that I am interested in being part of a support mechanism for cancer research. This job is a neat intersection of science and technology, and I have learned a lot on the job about using these cutting-edge technologies.

 

What do you enjoy outside your work at NSU?

Morgan: I enjoy travel and have upcoming plans to go on a Budapest-Vienna-Prague trip in December to see the Christmas market with my wife. We are also thinking about a trip to Costa Rica in June. I also enjoy basketball and am a computer hobbyist with interests in cryptocurrency.

Bojie: I like hiking with friends and family members. I have two children, elementary and high school aged, and on weekends we often go hiking. I am also passionate about teaching my children how to give back to the community, so occasionally I do community service with my children. I also teach Chinese online to other children at our community as a volunteer.