Bioengineering students research takes a digital look at the human genome

A chance encounter with a new professor produced a unique opportunity for one engineering undergraduate--the chance to digitally examine the impact of large-scale changes in the human genome and their correlation with the evolution of gene regulatory elements.

Peter Cote, a junior in bioengineering, first met assistant professor Jian Ma during an advising appointment at the end of his sophomore year. Ma, who had just been hired to the Department of Bioengineering faculty, was shadowing Cote’s adviser for the day.

“I mentioned in my advising appointment that I was interested in doing some research on campus, and, he said he was looking for some student support for research,” Cote said. “When I heard a little bit more about the work he was doing, I was hooked.”

Since then, Cote has been conducting in-depth digital research on large-scale genomic changes in the human genome at Ma’s Computational Comparative Genomics Lab (CCGL), and he is hoping to publish a paper soon on his findings.

“By analyzing gene coordinates in the genomes, we can use computer programs and see if there are insertions or deletions in the human genome that can affect gene expression,” Cote said. “Long-term goals will impact cellular growth, such as cancer and other diseases.”

Cote’s research is a joint project with Dr. Ivan Ovcharenko’s lab at the National Institute of Health, where Cote spent his last summer as part of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

It’s unusual for an undergraduate student to be performing such extensive research on his own, and Cote is the only undergraduate student on Ma’s team at the CCGL.

“He’s very creative, and also humble and hardworking,” Ma said.

Cote is the only person working on his project, but he said the professor's guidance and enthusiasm has been valuable for his research at the CCGL.  

“He gets really excited about the work I’m doing, which makes me get even more excited,” Cote said of Ma.

While most of his classmates are spending time in wet-labs doing hands-on experiments with chemicals, Cote spends all of his time sitting in front of a computer – which he is fine with.

“The work we do with computers takes the data from these labs and finds what’s interesting about it,” Cote said. “The two go hand in hand. With computers, you can predict how genes are going to act and where they’ll be, but you need to experimentally validate that too.”

Cote, who had no background in computer programming before starting his research, said he has enjoyed the experience of learning what he can digitally examine through computer programming and engineering.

“Once I started to get my feet wet, I really started to enjoy it,” Cote said. “You don’t need a lot of experience when it comes to research, and once I started getting the hang of it, I thought it was really cool.”

And though Cote’s research makes him stand out among his Engineering peers, it has been his volunteer work in the community that has solidified his aspirations to become a medical doctor after he graduates.

Cote volunteers at the nearby Provena Medical Center, doing everything from basic patient care to taking patients’ vitals. He also is involved with Volunteer Illini Projects Senior Citizens, going to nearby nursing homes to spend time with residents.

“I really enjoy going there and listening to all the things they have to say,” Cote said. “Spending time with people and being around Provena has really made me excited with the idea of becoming a doctor.”

He also is a member of Best Buddies Illinois, pairing with people in the community who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.

“That’s easily one of the coolest experiences I’ve been able to have,” Cote said. “It’s an experience just to be friends with my buddy, but on top of that I’ve been able to learn so much from him.”

And if Cote isn’t out volunteering in the community, he’ll be busy practicing for his weekly piano lessons or preparing for his upcoming MCAT exam in May – all while maintaining a 3.9 GPA.

Refering to Cote's opportunities going forward, Ma proudly stated, “The sky is his limit.”
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Writer: Jay Lee, Engineering Communications Office.

If you have any questions about the College of Engineering, or other story ideas, contact Rick Kubetz, editor, Engineering Communications Office, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 217/244-7716.