This document discusses techniques for obtaining an initial 3D model from 2D cryo-EM images, including 2D classification using K-means clustering and ISAC, and ab initio modeling using stochastic hill climbing and the RVIPER method. It highlights challenges with noise and heterogeneity in cryo-EM data and how multireference alignment and iterative clustering can help overcome these issues to produce more accurate class averages and an initial model.