Jae Young Choi is a postdoctoral researcher at New York University studying plant evolutionary genomics. Jae completed his Ph.D. at Cornell University in population genetics using Drosophila as a model system. His current research is focused on integrating functional genomics and population genetic theory to understand how plants have adapted to wild and human-made environments, ultimately leading to the diversification and speciation of lineages.

Determining the 3D structure of the genome reveals the spatial interaction between chromosomal regions. This crucial information can be used for genome scaffolding or for understanding how the chromosome architecture affects gene expression. Pore-C is a recently developed protocol that uses the nanopore platform for unraveling the 3D chromosome topology. Here, I will present results in applying Pore-C sequencing in two plant species, generating a chromosome-level genome assembly for the Hawaiian Metrosideros, and mapping the chromatin interaction in rice (Oryza) for identifying candidate enhancer-gene interactions in the rice genome.