Alicia Clum

Genome Assembly and Analysis Group Lead, Joint Genome Institute

Alicia has a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, in molecular and cellular biology. She joined the Joint Genome Institute in 2006 to work on microbial genomes. With extensive on-the-job training and some additional coursework, she transitioned to bioinformatics. Alicia has led the Genome Assembly and Analysis Group since 2014.

What inspires you to work in STEM or operations?

I enjoy the challenge of always having something new to learn. Things can change rapidly with technological improvements, so it is rewarding to see problems that were once challenging become significantly easier over time.

What excites you about your work at Berkeley Lab?

I like helping users further their research. We get a wide variety of interesting projects, from infectious plant pathogens to samples from extreme environments. We also encounter interesting edge cases because of the scale at which we operate, which keep us on our toes.

How can our country engage more women, girls, and members of other underrepresented groups in STEM or operations?

By building positive and supportive working environments. Early exposure and making learning fun will also help.

Do you have tips you would recommend for someone looking to enter your field of work?

I always advise coursework plus real projects to work on so you don’t forget everything you’ve learned. Being able to troubleshoot problems is also very handy regardless of your field of work.

When you have free time, what are your hobbies?

I enjoy traveling, snowboarding, soccer, and spending time with friends and family.