Joshua R. Nilsson
About
Pronouns: He/Him
Howdy! I'm Joshua R. Nilsson, an undergraduate Bioinformatics student at Utah Valley University. I was drawn to bioinformatics for its data analysis side — it felt like the perfect way to get more deeply involved in the quantitative side of biological research. As I've progressed through my degree, I've developed a particular interest in evolution and phylogenetics/phylogenomics, and I'm excited by how broadly applicable these computational skills are across research fields.
I've had a passion for marine biology since I was five years old, and after completing my undergraduate degree I plan to pursue a PhD within a marine system. I'm currently exploring graduate programs, with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as my top choice — though I'm keeping an open mind, including programs outside the US.
Outside of the lab and school I enjoy:
- Birdwatching and getting out into nature
- Spending time with friends and family
- Finding whatever side quest activity the day has to offer
Projects
Estimating Rate of Change in Genome Size Evolution Across Insect Taxa
A multi-part R pipeline that matches insect genome size data to phylogenetic tree tips, prunes trees to matched taxa, converts them to ultrametric form, and estimates BAMM priors to analyze rates of genome size evolution.
Resume
Click here for my current CV
Summary
Joshua R. Nilsson
Undergraduate Bioinformatics student with experience in genomic data analysis, reproducible bioinformatic pipelines, and field ecology research.
- Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
- joshuanilsson4@gmail.com
Education
Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics
Fall 2022 – Present
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
- Biology Minor
- Anticipated Graduation: Spring 2027
Associate in Science in Biology
Graduated: Spring 2025
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
Honors & Awards
Dean's List
Fall 2024
Utah Valley University
3rd Place – UVU Showcase of Undergraduate Scholarly & Creative Works
Spring 2025
Scholarly Activities Committee Grant ($1,454)
Spring 2024
Work Experience
Biology & Computer Science Tutor
January 2026 – Present
TRIO Student Support Services, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
- Tutor first-generation and low-income students one-on-one in their coursework
- Provide mentorship and plan skill-building workshops within the TRIO program
Instructional / Teaching Assistant
August 2021 – December 2022
Biology Department, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
- Tutored students struggling with course material
- Created study guides and ran review sessions
Research Experience
Dunn Lab | Peer Research Collaborator
Spring 2023 – Present
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
Investigating C. fluminea and P. gyrina population density in relation to water quality at Utah Lake.
- Sample along Utah Lake's shore using a point-intercept sampling technique
- Perform field and lab water chemistry tests to assess various water parameters
- Utilize RStudio for statistical analysis and data visualization
Dunn Lab | Peer Research Collaborator
Spring 2022 – Spring 2023
Utah Valley University, Orem, UT
Assessing parasite prevalence and population dynamics of crayfish in an urban pond ecosystem.
- Conducted field sampling of invasive crayfish (Faxonius virilis)
- Dissected specimens to determine presence of macroparasites
- Performed mark-recapture study to estimate population density at Salem Pond
Griffen Lab | Research Intern
Fall 2019 – Spring 2020
Brigham Young University, Provo, UT
Assessing crayfish metabolism and behavior across sexual morphs.
- Conducted 50+ crayfish dissections and measured organ wet/dry weights
- Performed behavioral assays measuring boldness and shyness
- Aided in manuscript preparation for a published scientific review article
Publication
Cabrera, D., Nilsson, J. R., & Griffen, B. D. (2021). The development of animal personality across ontogeny: a cross-species review. Animal Behaviour, 173, 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.01.003
Skills
I am currently learning R, Python, and BASH. I am actively improving my skills as I work on projects for my lab and courses.
Contact
Location
800 W University Pkwy, Orem, UT 84058
joshuanilsson4@gmail.com