Alexis Garretson

Predoctoral Candidate - the Dumont Lab @The Jackson Laboratory

ME, US

Investigating the hidden drivers of mutation rate variation, I use cutting-edge computational tools to uncover how genetic diversity shapes disease risk and reproductive health. As a PhD candidate in a genomics-focused lab, I integrate big data, emerging technologies, and reproducible workflows to transform raw sequence data into biological insights. Driving Discovery Through Genomics – Analyzed whole-genome and RNA-seq datasets across diverse mouse strains to identify candidate loci influencing germline mutation rates and reproductive phenotypes. Building Scalable Analysis Pipelines – Developed and optimized robust, containerized pipelines using Nextflow and Slurm to support reproducible, high-throughput analysis across NGS sequencing data types. Linking Variants to Function – Performed gene and variant-level assessments to connect genetic signals to phenotypes, synthesizing evidence from annotation databases, experimental literature, and population-based data. Advancing Research Impact – Designed and led efforts investigating the genetic architecture of fertility traits. Championing Open Science – Promoted transparent, shareable analysis environments using Apptainer/Singularity containers and public workflow repositories.