Biomedical Engineering student Zhilong Liao recently completed a hands-on internship at The Advanced Genomics Collaboration (TAGC), applying his academic knowledge to a cutting-edge project aimed at transforming cancer detection.
Working within a project focused on developing a liquid biopsy test for cancer of unknown primary (cell-free DNA CUP test), Zhilong developed an R package designed to analyse methylation data from cell-free DNA (cfDNA) using Biomodal sequencing — an emerging tool in early cancer detection.
“This internship was a chance to take what I’ve learned and apply it to a real-world healthcare challenge,” Zhilong said. “It was incredibly rewarding to contribute to meaningful genomic research.”
A typical day in his placement involved programming in R, analysing cfDNA methylation data, and collaborating with his supervisor and team to iterate on the software’s performance and usability. These practical experiences helped Zhilong bridge the gap between theory and application.
One key takeaway for Zhilong was stakeholder engagement — a crucial skill in any research or commercial setting. “I learned how to communicate technical results clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences,” he explained. “That skill will definitely stay with me.”
The highlight of the internship was completing a reusable R package and structuring a bioinformatics workflow for cfDNA methylation analysis. “It gave me a much deeper understanding of how genomics data is handled in real research environments,” he shared.
Zhilong also found that his interest in genomics grew significantly during the internship. “Before this, I knew the basics,” he said. “Now, I’m really interested in using computational tools to support clinical diagnostics.”
Looking ahead, Zhilong is aiming for a future in bioinformatics or biomedical data analysis — a direction solidified by his internship experience. “The internship confirmed that I’m on the right path. I’ve built skills I’ll use in research or industry settings.”
His advice to other students considering a TAGC internship? “Go for it. You’ll get to work on impactful projects with a team that really supports your learning and growth.”
Zhilong’s story is a testament to how internships can shape a student’s career direction, equipping them with the technical and professional tools to succeed in the fast-evolving world of genomics.