A “Protocol Browser” for Stem Cell Differentiation

We are building a new digital tool inspired by the UCSC Genome Browser, but instead of DNA sequences, the tracks will show thousands of stem cell differentiation protocols. The vision is to give researchers a way to upload, visualise, and compare iPSC differentiation steps (media changes, growth factors, small molecules, assays) in a timeline view. This will make it possible to quickly see how protocols align, where they differ, and what outcomes they achieve, opening new ways to design and optimise stem cell workflows.

As a software engineering student on this project, you will work at the intersection of bioinformatics, data visualisation, and stem cell biology, developing an open-source platform that researchers worldwide can use. You will design a browser-like user interface, build validation and search tools, and implement comparison logic for complex biological processes. This is a unique opportunity to apply your technical skills to a high-impact problem in regenerative medicine and biotechnology.

We already have students working on a language models that automatically extracts stem cell protocols, as well as on the base visualisation tools. We need someone to set up the database of protocols and compile it all together in a user-friendly browser.