Analyzing Gene Expression Signatures Associated with Neuroinflammation Using Public RNA-Seq Datasets
Research Field
Computational Biology | Neuroscience | Bioinformatics
Location
Remote or In-Person (Manhattan, NY)
Project Overview
Neuroinflammation plays a critical role in the progression of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, yet many of its molecular drivers remain poorly understood. In this project, a student will work with publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets to investigate gene expression patterns associated with inflammatory signaling in brain tissue and neural cell types.
This project is designed to introduce students to authentic biomedical research using real-world data and analysis methods commonly used in academic medicine.
Student Responsibilities
The student will:
Learn how to locate, evaluate, and access publicly available gene expression datasets
Perform differential gene expression analyses using guided bioinformatics workflows
Identify pathways and biomarkers associated with neuroinflammatory processes
Interpret results within a biological and clinical context
Contribute to a written research paper suitable for science competitions and presentations
No prior bioinformatics experience is required, but students should be comfortable with basic statistics and motivated to learn new computational tools.
Skills Gained
Introduction to RNA-seq data analysis
Foundational bioinformatics and data visualization techniques
Scientific literature review and synthesis
Research writing and presentation skills
Experience working with a professional biomedical research mentor
Time Commitment
Approximately 5–8 hours per week, depending on the student’s goals and timeline.
Ideal Student Profile
Highly motivated high school student with strong interest in biology, neuroscience, or medicine
Comfortable working independently with mentor guidance
Prior coursework in biology recommended; coding experience helpful but not required
