March Goals

monthly goals
Published

March 1, 2026

March Goals

Reworking February’s In-Progress Goals

  1. Get the biomarker manuscript over to WDFW for review and out to ICB before the March 31st submission deadline.

  2. Complete DNA methylation data processing and begin exploratory analysis.

  3. Finish PhD proposal and submit to committee for review.

  4. Aspirational - Begin mussel experiment for Chapter 3 & 4.

Strategies for Success

Goal 1: Biomarker Manuscript

  1. Re-write results section
  2. Write abstract
  3. Finish polished visualizations, tables, and captions for the biomarker manuscript.
  4. Prepare a folder of polished supplementary materials, i.e., index maps, transformed data tables, and cleaned up R scripts.
  5. Send manuscript to complete committee for feedback.

Goal 2: DNA Methylation Analysis

  1. Re-familiarize myself with where I left off in late 2025 and backup the large files.
  2. Move through the initial Bismark pipeline (which I believe I finished) into optimizing alignment parameters and using that outcome for subsequent steps.
  3. Quantify methylation levels and visualize using IGV or JBrowse.
  4. Get feedback on initial results from Steven and/or other lab members before moving into downstream analyses.

Goal 3: PhD Proposal

  1. Review MS proposal and points of expansion.
  2. Clarify purpose of chapters 3 & 4 and significance of the work.
  3. Rework the introduction to shift the framing from identifying the problem to creating a solution to maximize the current monitoring program OR reduce the monitoring burden.
  4. List and clarify the specific methods for each chapter and how they were built based on the results of chapter 2.

Goal 4: Chapter 3 & 4 Mussel Experiment

  1. Put together a detailed experimental plan including timeline, materials needed, and data collection methods with 1-3 options for setup.
  2. Complete the Lab Risk Assessment form from EH&S to discuss with Steven to get approval for the experiment.
  3. Connect with Jon W and Sam W to work through physical space, setups, and ordering materials.