Research Interests
I started working in the Schatz Lab as part of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory's Undergraduate Research Program. Since then, my work has focused on the development of a mathematical tool that can characterize genomic
complexity from sequence data. This tool, GenomeScope,
is an open-source web tool to rapidly estimate the overall characteristics of
a genome, including genome size, heterozygosity rate, and repeat content from
unprocessed short reads. Establishing these characteristics in advance can
reveal if the analysis methods (mapper, de novo assembler, or SNP caller) are
not capturing the full complexity of the genome, such as underreporting the
expected number of variants or not assembling a significant fraction of the
genome. While experimental methods are available for determining some of
these characteristics, they can be expensive and laborious to perform. We have
demonstrated the accuracy of GenomeScope on 340
simulated and real datasets with a wide range in genome sizes, heterozygosity
levels, and error rates.
Previously, I contributed to an on-going project in the lab of Juan Marcos Alarcon at SUNY Downstate Medical
Center's Summer Research Program. This study dealt with whether or not different
contextual experiences change synaptic activity in the CA1 region of the
rodent hippocampus. I analyzed how the synaptic activity of mice that have not
experienced a change in environment (not removed from their home cage) and have
not learned a spatial memory task compares to untrained mice (removed from
home cage without spatial memory task) and trained animals (removed from home
cage and taught a spatial memory task) via in-vitro electrophysiology.
About Me
I am currently a medical student at New York University School of Medicine as
part of the class of 2020. I completed my undergraduate coursework at New
York University where I studied mathematics and computer
science from 2010 to 2014. During my time between undergraduate and medical school, I continued working on GenomeScope, volunteered at Cohen Children's Medical
Center with the Sunrise
on Wheels Program, and worked a full time job as a medical scribe for CityMD Urgent Care.
The culmination of these experiences are what influenced me to pursue a
career as a physician and demonstrated my desire to help those who are most
in need.
As for my nonacademic interests, I have a strong passion
for martial arts. I have been practicing martial arts for almost twenty
years. I have a first degree black belt from Tiger Schulmann's Mixed
Martial Arts, where I continue to train in kickboxing, submission grappling,
and traditional karate. I believe that martial arts provide valuable skills that promote physical and mental health. I also enjoy going for long runs and bike rides.
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Gregory Vurture
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
One Bungtown Road
Koch Building 1124
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
E-mail: gwv203 <at> nyu.edu
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