I was funded by the Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship (2019-2020) and the Stanwood Johnston Fellowship (2017-2018)Published work from my PhD thesis can be found: Conley et al. 2018 AEM doi: 10.1128/AEM.02134-18; Conley et al. 2020 AEM doi: 10.1128/AEM.01253-20Additional publications: https://elifesciences.org/articles/49831 and http://tiny.cc/mjifmz and shorturl.at/dkGP5 In addition to traditional lab techniques, I have experience in the following:Problem Solving: -Example: Determined precise conditions for metal reduction in Vibrio spp. to test metal reduction phenotype in various strains. Without these precise conditions, I was not be able to distinguish the difference between different mutant strains. By fine tuning the assay, I am able to test my hypothesis and determine what genes are involved in metal reduction in Vibrio spp.Project management: -Managed my thesis research projects in addition to completing other requirements of my PhD. -Trained and advised two undergraduate students working on thesis-related projects.-Organized various outreach events at multiple venues for the lab to obtain broader impact goals.-Organized and delivered seminars for early career microbiologists as the American Society for Microbiology's young ambassador to Minnesota.People Management:-Manage the lab's student workers activities and availabilities.-Invited and hosted speakers for student-run seminar group on campus.Communication: I can present my research at a technical or non-technical level. -Oral presentations at a national and an international conference (3), and three minute thesis competition.-Poster presentations at national conferences (3), and local events. -Shared my research with non-technical audiences ranging from K-12 to adults through various outreach activities. I also have experience in written communication:-First author peer-reviewed publication from graduate work-Funded internal and external proposals

Fall 2016 and 2017Teaching Assistant for Dr. Sandra Armstrong for Microbial Diversity and Physiology Lab• Advised and critiqued 25 students in lab techniques and scientific reasoning• Developed grading rubrics, evaluated written lab reports and designed and delivered lectures

Proudly served as part of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) ambassador program as young ambassador to Minnesota!Promoting ASM membership to early-career scientists-Presented a seminar to undergraduate students about the benefits of ASM membership, and resources that would benefit undergraduate students-Offering discount code for membership to local members.Promoting collaborations between ASM and universities, industries and societies through local activities such as seminars and community outreach.-Presented a seminar at the University of Minnesota to graduate student and post-docs about scientific writing, a webinar made by ASM.-Initiated and presented ASM sponsored best microbiology project at the twin cities region science fair in 2018-2020 for grades 6-12.-Developed curriculum and outreach materials for 5 outreach sessions with Bdote Learning Center, a Dakota and Ojibwe immersion school, in collaboration with the FORSE program run by the Minnesota Academy of Sciences.Promoting and developed the professional and academic development of early-career scientists through local activities.-Disseminate information about conferences and funding opportunities available from ASM to local scientists. -Invited and hosted speakers from various industries to speak to a student and post-doc run seminar series at the University of Minnesota.Collaborating with other Young Ambassadors from the US and 80 different countries-Met with other young ambassadors at 2018 and 2019 Microbe and discussed further ideas for improvements to bolster ASM membership and participation.

Department of Health and SciencesAdjunct Professor for Introduction to Science Course (SCI120)• Taught hybrid class for non-science majors course with 12 students• Independently adapted curriculum for online class to a hybrid style

Managed the lab and assisted in experiments exploring mechanisms of autoimmunity and anti-cancer immunotherapy.-Mentoring an undergraduate student: Taught student general lab techniques, instructed and advised on histology methods working with frozen, paraffin fixed and teased sciatic nerve samples.-Mouse Colony Management: approximately 20 strains and 1000 mice at a time, genotyping mice via PCR and flow cytometry, and maintaining records using JAX colony management software. Responsible for breeding, individual identification and weaning while maintaining lab in compliance with animal use protocols.-Lab Management: Implemented digital ordering and inventory management. Responsible for ordering, inventory, and lab compliance with animal and lab safety protocolsScience Skills:-Determined the role of androgen receptor in Aire expression and negative selection: Cloning and mutagenesis, Worked with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice, monitoring and care performing flow cytometry and histology of spinal cord, brain and thymus. Also processed human thymus tissue.-Determined the role of UTX in TFH cells and Turner’s Syndrome: Collection and processing of human blood performing flow cytometry and subsequent data analysis.-Investigated the pathogenic mechanisms of spontaneous autoimmune peripheral neuropathy in mice: Troubleshot and optimized immunofluorescent and immunohistochemistry staining for novel cell markers in the sciatic nerve. Cloning and transfection of human cell line. Cell culturing and retroorbital adaptive transfers.-Investigation of central tolerance blockade as an anti-cancer therapy in mice and humans: Intraperitoneal antibody treatment and subcutaneous injection of murine melanoma measuring tumor development and survival, harvesting tumors for histology and immunofluorescent staining. Generated preliminary data for grant proposals by harvesting human thymic cells and performing flow cytometry.

Studied the mechanism of pathogenesis of Campylobacter sp.-Deletion of ciaB in Campylobacter rectus: Generated ciaB insertional mutant using Gateway cloning, and helped develop electroporation protocol for C. rectus.-Phenotyping ciaB mutant and wild-type strains: Performed plate based antibiotic sensitivity and motility assays, analyzed cell morphology using crystal violet staining, performed quantitative PCR on ciaB expression under different growth conditions.-Generated a murine polyclonal antibody specific for the Campylobacter jejuni protein Cj0371: Cloned cj0371 for heterologous production and purfication in E. coli. Performed ELISA on resulting polyclonal antibodies for quality control.

Teaching Assistant for Dr. Mark G. Keen for Introduction to Microbiology Lab for honors and majors• Guided and advised 25 students in lab techniques• Facilitated preparing and managing lab materials

Worked in multiple positions, including: hostess, busser, dishwasher, line cook and waitress.