GExplore landing page.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Design for Bioinformatics
GExplore is a bioinformatics database and tool for genome-scale exploration of gene and protein functions in the C. elegans model organism. Originally launched in 2009 by Dr. Harald Hutter and colleagues at SFU’s Biology Department, and has supported research for over a decade. I joined the project to contribute to the design and front-end development. Collaborating closely with Dr. Hutter and Mehrdad Moosavi, we enhanced the user experience, presenting data in a more accessible and visually engaging way.
ROLE
User Experience
User Interface
Front-End Development
Visual Design
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
CLIENT
Dr. Harald Hutter
Simon Fraser University
DATE
May 2024 - November 2024
01
Insights and Problems
Accessibility gap in bioinformatics data
Certain valuable datasets are not easily accessible from existing centralized repositories, highlighting the need for optimized and updated datasets for comprehensive analysis.
User Experience overlooked in scientific tools
Bioinformatics tools often prioritize functionality over user experience, yet an intuitive and multi-functional user interface is key for efficient data extraction and exploration.
The importance of meaningful data presentation
Proper selection and structuring of data is essential, but presenting data in a clear and interpretable way is equally important for researchers to draw meaningful insights.
02
Model Organism
Fun fact:
C. elegans research leads to Nobel Prize in Medicine
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNAs' role in gene regulation, using C. elegans as a model, which has fundamentally advanced our understanding of gene expression and disease.