Miranda Darby is assistant professor of bioinformatics at Hood College.  Miranda has a Ph.D. in molecular biology and genetics from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.  She has a passion for studying the human genome and teaching others to do the same.   Her current research focuses on the development of computational methods to identify and quantify the expression of novel RNAs using whole genome RNA sequencing. Join us in this conversation as Miranda speaks bout the challenges and possibilities that bioinformatics holds for us.

EPISODE LINKS:

Miranda Darby - https://www.hood.edu/academics/faculty/miranda-darby

PODCAST INFO:

• Full video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3DnFZmITV1mPYGEodt3PIA
• Podcast website: https://thethorhour.podbean.com
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thor-hour/id1608003989
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1pgRxS7PVmC1Utunsx1DOr
• RSS: https://feed.podbean.com/thethorhour/feed.xml

OUTLINE:

0:00:00 - Start

0:11:06 - What is sequencing and why is it important?

0:14:26 - What’s up with junk DNA?

0:19:52 - Miranda’s research of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at Johns Hopkins

0:25:47 - What is the focus for the bioinformatics program at Hood College?

0:31:20 - The development of tools for bioinformatics

0:44:15 - What are the challenges in bioinformatics today?

0:55:30 - The cultural melting pot of computer and biology geeks

1:00:34 - Engineering, discovery, and pushing forward

1:05:11 - Miranda’s battle with cancer and it’s impact on her

1:15:13 - The democratization of studying bioinformatics

1:18:03 - COVID’s effect on the program

1:25:05 - What is exciting on the horizon?

1:38:22 - What is the best parts of living and working in Frederick?