I’m a lecturer at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). We recently opened a new undergraduate biomedical program to train next-generation researchers (https://bmh.hkust.edu.hk/). This project is a course I will teach next fall at HKUST which uses UK Biobank data to give students first-hand experience with genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The course is designed to provide practical training in computational biomedical sciences, helping students understand human and statistical genetics while learning the importance of reproducible workflows. Working in small groups, our students will choose a common disease of interest–such as Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, coronary artery disease, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer-and carry out the steps of a GWAS using UK Biobank data, with existing tools in R and Linux. By embedding UK Biobank data into our curriculum, the course introduces undergraduates to biobank-scale genetics, builds confidence in computational analysis, and prepares students with skills that will be valuable for their future research careers. The project is educational, makes use of existing data, and is focused on developing the next generation of health researchers. Interesting findings from the student groups will be selected and published in research journals. Thank you very much in advance for your consideration of my application.
