Looking back: Thoughts on my undergrad thesis years later

What I would change in data analysis

At the time, I made an effort to conduct a rigorous analysis, but with the experience gained during my predoctoral training, I clearly see some flaws and areas for improvement. One of the main problems was the lack of planning in data management: I didn't sufficiently document each step of the analysis, and this hampered reproducibility.

If I were to do my TFG again, I would make sure to:

✅ Keep a clear record of each data transformation.

✅ Use code and data versioning to avoid losing information.

✅ Apply statistical and visualization best practices .

✅ Spend more time validating results to avoid bias.

Experience has taught me that good analysis is not just about applying bioinformatics tools, but also about documenting every decision so that the results are reproducible and reliable.

Presentation nerves: more preparation, less panic

One of the most stressful moments of the final project was the defense. Despite practicing, my nerves caused me to skip important sections and fail to answer some questions as clearly as I would have liked.

If I could give myself one piece of advice at that moment, it would be:

🔹 Practice more, but strategically : Don't just memorize, but rehearse with difficult questions.

🔹 Simplicity above all : There's no need to overload with information, the important thing is to convey the key ideas.

🔹 Take a break before you start : A few seconds of pause before speaking helps control your pace and anxiety.

An experience that marked the path

Looking back, I see the final project as a key learning experience. It wasn't perfect, but it was the first step in my development as a researcher. If this journey has taught me anything, it's that science is a process of continuous improvement.

If you're preparing your final project, my advice is: make mistakes, but document your process and trust what you've learned . In the end, what matters isn't just the result, but how much you grow along the way.