Building out integrated workcells, monitoring and continuously improving upon laboratory workflows

Validating automated laboratory workflows in a regulated environment

Advisor: Michael D. LynchDesign and construction of E. Coli for production of high-value and novel compounds (commodity, specialty, and pharmaceutical chemicals; functional materials) from glucose using metabolic engineering, protein engineering, and directed evolution. Developed and improved liquid handling scripts and workflows for improved throughput of strain construction. Designed and executed high-throughput screens of known (synthetic metabolic valve combinations) and random (mutagenic PCR, site-saturating mutagenesis) strains. Performed as-needed re/training of robots for new labware and fluidic component replacement. Developed metabolite quantification methods (UPLC-UV and –MS/MS) to rigorous standards (known LOD, LOQ, linear range, precision). Scaled protocols to plate format including competent cell preparation, acid/base pigment extractions, and enzyme kinetics assays. Demonstrated proof-of-concept in vitro synthesis and identified regulatory path to approval for generic Liraglutide, a diabetes drug with >$1bn/year market as a member of a spin-out project. Initiated a new, cross-disciplinary collaboration for production and characterization of novel organic semiconductors.

Advisor: Nicolas E. BuchlerConceived and conducted research projects to develop novel or improved genetic tools for gene circuits, including: small molecule-inducible protein-protein interaction in collaboration with computational protein design team, improved switch-like behavior with CRISPR/Cas9-driven expression, investigations of utility of programmable transcription factors (TALEs, CRISPRi) and bacterial repressors (TetR, LacI) to interrogate cell cycle processes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. iGEM mentor: defined research and outreach goals, experimental approaches, and guided teams of up to six undergraduate researchers, leading to silver (2012, 2013) and gold medals (2014).

Iron uptake and maintenance in Arabidopsis thaliana