My research interests center on building, annotating, understanding and making use of genomes. I have coordinated research in large multi-institutional international research consortia, including analysis and publication of research results for the Human Genome Project, Human Microbiome Project, and comparative genomics projects for over 40 animal species. For these projects, I had a role in creating genome representations through de novo genome assembly, improving genome representation through targeted sequencing and structural variation analysis, and contributing to the understanding of genome function through analysis, annotation and computational methods. The number of sequenced human genomes has increased, and genomes representative of diverse humans have become available, but the challenge of interpreting the impact of personal variation and applying this knowledge in a way that serves individual patients and improves the practice of medicine remains an analytical frontier.