The BFF is a core facility at UGA that serves academic labs and industrial clients in fermentation, downstream processing, product purification, cell culture and antibody production. I am the project manager for most of the molecular work (cloning, site-directed mutagenesis and gene knockouts), as well as, process development and 1L bioreactor fermentations in our multi-vessel DASGIP system. I assist in larger scale fermentations (20L to 900L). I also author, review and help implement SOPs for our ICH Q10 based Quality Control System.

Our goal at Evolugate is to use directed evolution to produce strains of industrial relevant microbes that can grow robustly under conditions prevalent in industry. To succeed at this endeavor I maintain strain libraries and test the evolved strains in in shake flasks and bioreactors under industrial conditions. I have experience working with yeast, bacteria, algae and filamentous fungi and scaling-up cultures into bioreactors ranging from 1L to 20L. I monitor the carbohydrate consumption and metabolite production through HPLC, cell growth through OD, mass gain and cell counts, and enzyme activity (as necessary) through enzyme activity assays and quantification assays.

I study ethanol production for biofuel from the fermentation of pectin-rich biomass in Dr. Joy Peterson's lab. -The effect of the composition of pectin-rich biomass (sugar beet pulp, citrus waste, rotten apples, and cull peaches) on ethanol production from yeast and bacteria.-Addition of cellobiase and pectinolytic genes to E. coli KO11 to give it the ability to produce its own cell wall degrading genes, thus decreasing the requirement for costly fungal enzymes.-Metabolic engineering E. coli to increase ethanol production from pectin-rich biomass.

Introduction to Microbiology Laboratory (MIBO2500L), Spring 2013-Taught weekly laboratory based class. Developed and presented lectures at the beginning of class and assisted student with performance of hands-on lab activities completed in small groups.-Helped generate, proctor and grade lab practicals (midterm and final) and quizzes.-Used on-line resources (eLearnings Commons, eLC) to post grades and lectures and to communicate with students.Introduction to Microbiology (MIBO3500), Fall 2010-Spring 2012-Introductory course taught to over 300 undergraduates covering bacteria, archaea and viruses.-Helped implement a flipped-classroom (lectures provided through eLC as podcasts and small-group activities completed in-class).-Prepared in-class activities, focusing on real-world applications of material.-Met with small groups during class to answer questions and facilitate group discussion.-Helped implement the use of Top Hat, an online student response and engagement system-Held weekly office hours and exam review sessions-Served as first point of contact between students and professor outside of class-Assisted in writing, proctoring and grading exams (4 per semester)

Characterization of pectin degrading enzymes and galacturonic acid metabolism in thermophilic organisms.

May 2006 - July 2006 Merck/AAAS Summer Research Fellow- Production of pigments in Arabidopsis in response to UV irradiationMay 2005 - July 2005 HHMI Summer Research Fellow- Competition experiment between King Ranch Bluestem (an invasive species to Texas) and native Texas grasses.

Quantifying the bacteria present in the midgut of blood fed mosquitoes.