Student Name: Alex Cahill

PIPs Host Organisation: Kew Botanical Garden

PIPs Project Title: Investigating the compatibility locus of the fungal genome Suillus

Mating is a fundamental evolutionary process, and fungi offer a unique opportunity to study it beyond the constraints of binary sex systems. In Suillus species, Alex used multiallelic mating types to investigate the genetic basis of compatibility, using predictive protein structure analysis with the final aim of addressing population-level questions about how allele diversity relates to population size.

Throughout this project Alex has learned how to apply his knowledge to a different subject area and gained many useful skills in collaboration and communication. It was interesting for Alex to see how an organisation such as Kew runs and seeing other career options outside of a University or Industry establishment. He has reinforced his bioinformatics skills in script writing (R, python, and bash) as well as navigating and using a HPC to run what would otherwise be elaborate jobs. Alex was very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend his placement at Kew Botanical Gardens.

Kew Botanical Garden provided excellent feedback for Alex, noting his “excellent performance” and adding that “he is wonderful!”.