Griffin, Nicholas
Current Institution: California State University, Long Beach
Hometown: Katy, Texas
Fields of Interest:
Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Genetics
Bioinformatics and Genomics
Medical Genetics- Human and Animal
When and how did you realize that you wanted to study Genetics & Genomics?
I knew early on that I wanted to study genetics. I was diagnosed with alpha thalassemia at birth, and my frequent check-ups got me interested in genetics (and science in general). This interest later developed into a desire to study genetics around middle/high school. For genomics, my interest in this field came during my undergraduate years, largely influenced by several professors who did a great job introducing me to how this field is becoming increasingly important in biological research, in addition to my personal interest in coding and data science.
Why did you choose the Genetics & Genomics Ph.D. program at A&M?
I chose A&M mainly due to how comfortable I felt talking and interacting with both the current graduate students, as well as the staff during interview week. While researching the program and current research was also influential, my decision was made substantially easier after the in-person event left an extremely positive impact on me. While other programs I applied and was accepted to were also strong in terms of their research in genetics and genomics, none approached how welcomed I felt from everyone at A&M.
If you were free to choose anything, what research question/topic would you like to address for your graduate studies?
If I could choose anything, I would love the opportunity to do my research studying rare genetic disorders/diseases in humans (although I am flexible on the specifics at this point). Ideally, this would involve both computational and experimental approaches, developing computational pipelines for rapid and more accurate screening, as well as researching potential therapeutics/treatment plans.
Fun Facts:
Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?
I’m an orchestral percussionist. When I have the time, I play with the Cypress Symphonic Band.
Do you have any pets? If so, please tell us about them.
My family has one rescue dog named Luna (black flat-coated retriever & spaniel mix), a parakeet named Lola, and a cockatiel named Clyde (he’s technically my sister’s, but he really likes me for some reason).