Barbara Shelley Jetton

About

Hello, my name is Barbara but you can call me Babs! I am a senior at Utah Valley University, interested in pursuing a career in genetic disease and risk prediction.

Researcher

Science has been a part of my life for as long as I remember. As a child I explored the geology and biodiversity of Utah, and later, as a teenager, the ecosystem and marine life of Florida. My love for biology was formed by the natural world as I explored, asked questions, and got my hands dirty. From the ages of nine to fourteen I participated in robotics where I developed my passion for coding. Now my study in bioinformatics combines my favorite subjects into one degree! Outside of school, you can find me reading a good horror or sci-fi book, playing piano, or hanging out with family and friends.

Email: BarbaraJetton@outlook.com
City: Orem, UT

Major: Bioinformatics
Minor: Computer Science

Projects

Coding

Developing an R package used to aid in the creation of phylogenetic trees. This package has the ability to scrape GenBank for information given a list of species and genes, pull FASTA files based off search results, align mitochondrial genes to whole mitochondrial genomes, and create super matrices to be used in tree construction.

Disaster Exploration

An interactive web application and data report used to investigate and model natural disaster information from 1900 - 2021. Data was gathered using NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).

Click here

Resume

Summary

Barbara Shelley Jetton

Dedicated and Passionate researcher with a keen ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team, I thrive on tackling challenges with enthusiasm and curiosity. My commitment to excellence, coupled with a strong work ethic, has been the driving force in my academic and professional endeavors.

Education

BS of Bioinformatics w/ minor of Computer Science

2021 - 2025

Utah Valley University, UT

Major GPA: 3.70 | Minor GPA: 3.55

Experience

Independent Researcher

2023 - Present

Utah Valley University, UT

Creating a phylogeny to study karyotype stability in the order Diptera
Exploring evolutionary histories and relationships of Diptera
Employing the scientific method to establish proper hypothesis testing and reproducibility
Collaborating with lab team to ensure project success and foster a supportive environment

Presentations

2024

"Leg Day: A look into the evolution of frog feet" (Co-Author)

Spring Biology Department Research Poster Session, Utah Valley University

"Creating a universal framework for reconstructing phylogenies: Building trees at your fingertips using R" (Author)

Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research, Utah Valley University

2023

"Genomic oracles: predicting the future, one SNP at a time" (Co-Author)

Fall Biology Department Research Poster Session, Utah Valley University

Achievements

Current president of the Evolution and Bioinformatics Student Club at UVU
Lead organizer of UVU's Darwin Day celebration, attended by over 500 individuals, raising over $600 in profit
2023 Deans list recipient

Skills

Proficient

Laboratory saftey protocols, including sample handling, disposal, and microbial control
Record maintenance, filing, and organization, using both physical and digital systems
Project coordination, task prioritization, and time management

Competent

Techniques used in pathogen identification such as biochemical assays and PCR
Fundamental laboratory skills such as microscopy, pipetting, and solution handling
Laboratory equipment maintenance and troubleshooting