index.qmd

---
about:
  template: jolla
  id: about-block
  image: "img/collens.jpg"
  links:
    - icon: newspaper
      text: OrcidID
      href: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1016-9999
    - icon: github
      text: Github
      href: https://github.com/acollens
    - icon: linkedin
      text: LinkedIn
      href: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adena-collens/
    - icon: envelope
      text: Email
      href: "mailto:mail.acollens@umd.edu"  
---

::: {#about-block}
:::

Hi, I'm Adena! I'm a first-year Ph.D. student in [Biological Sciences](https://www.bisi.umd.edu/) at University of Maryland co-advised by  [Prof. Mihai Pop](https://sites.google.com/a/cs.umd.edu/poplab/) and [Prof. Allen Collins](https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/invertebrate-zoology/research/collins-lab). I use metagenomic assembly methods to investigate exciting questions about co-evolution between microbes and their hosts. 

My previous research focused on microbial eukaryotic biodiversity and genome evolution in [Prof. Laura Katz's Lab](https://www.science.smith.edu/katzlab/) and strain engineering in [Prof. Nina Lin's Lab](https://lin.engin.umich.edu/). I also assessed data accessibility in microbiology manuscripts as a bioinformatician in [Prof. Pat Schloss's Lab](https://www.schlosslab.org/). 

While there, I started volunteering as a certified [Software Carpentries](https://carpentries.org/index.html) Instructor. I currently instruct workshops with the Smithsonian Institution Carpentries chapter.

Outside the lab, you can find me playing kickball, rugby, or reading zines.