Cory Gargas, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Fayetteville, AR, US

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

• Developed and maintained automated data processing scripts for multiple clinical trial studies, ensuring efficient and accurate data handling across diverse projects.
• Collaborated with data analysts to assess and validate data, managing and delivering high-quality data outputs and reports to meet both internal and external client requirements.
• Designed and maintained data management scripts using R, Markdown, and GitHub, streamlining workflows and enhancing reproducibility in data analysis.
• Authored and reviewed data transfer specifications to ensure compliance with both internal protocols and external client needs, ensuring seamless data exchange and integration.
• Engineered and optimized data compilation, and transfer tools, improving the efficiency and accuracy of data reporting across projects.
• Conducted peer reviews and quality control of data files, programs, and reports, ensuring high standards of accuracy, consistency, and reliability.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

• Directed all aspects of two multi-year research projects on Diatom–Bacteria interactions, including designing workflows to analyze genetic and transcriptomic data from 200+ algal cultures and their associated bacteria.
• Conducted genomic and transcriptomic analyses, leveraging statistical programming and bioinformatics tools (R, Python, SQL, Linux), and utilized phylogenetics software, microbiome analysis, and HPC via SLURM workload.
• Communicated research findings through scientific articles, project reports, and conference presentations, producing high-quality figures with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and R.
• Reviewed and edited technical writing for multiple scientific publications, ensuring clarity and accuracy in presenting research insights.
• Generated detailed project reports and analytical workflows using Jupyter notebooks, Markdown, and Quarto, maintaining code repositories on GitHub.
• Achieved intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel and applied experience in statistical analysis and data visualization across various platforms.

Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States

• Led human anatomy course instruction, designing and delivering engaging content to enhance student understanding of human structure and function.
• Guided students through complex anatomical and physiological concepts, fostering a deeper comprehension of human biology.
• Provided hands-on support during dissections, assisting students in mastering the techniques and ethical considerations of biological specimen analysis.
• Conducted in-lab assessments using anatomical models and real biological specimens, ensuring a comprehensive and immersive learning experience.
• Managed the delivery of over $900k in instructional services, grading assignments for more than 500 students, and maintaining high standards of academic excellence.

University Heights, Ohio, United States

• Led all aspects of two-year research project to determine the evolutionary relationships of rare terrestrial diatoms, employing molecular phylogenetics to uncover novel insights into their taxonomy and evolutionary.
• Executed complex molecular techniques, including DNA extraction, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, and molecular cloning, to drive key findings in diatom research.
• Cultivated and maintained hundreds of unialgal Cyanobacteria and diatom cultures, ensuring healthy, high-quality specimens for experimental studies.
• Prepared specialized culture media (Z8 and WC) to support the growth and analysis of photosynthetic microalgae, optimizing conditions for diverse species.
• Managed and updated a comprehensive culture collection database, streamlining data accessibility and ensuring accurate tracking of microbial cultures.
• Leveraged advanced statistical programming in R and conducted spatial analyses with ArcGIS to interpret complex ecological data and visualize trends.

University Heights, Ohio, United States

• Led laboratory instruction for Principles of Biology I, II, and III, delivering dynamic and engaging hands-on experiences to students across multiple levels of biological study.
• Facilitated interactive labs that reinforced core scientific concepts, nurtured critical thinking skills, and equipped students with practical expertise in biological research methodologies.
• Emphasized the theory of evolution and provided in-depth coverage of biological diversity across all domains of life, ensuring students gained a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary principles.
• Contributed over $300k in instructional services, managing grading and academic support for more than 90 students, while maintaining rigorous standards of academic excellence.

Stow, Ohio, United States

• Performed species-level identification of diatoms, contributing to high-accuracy environmental assessments.
• Identified macroinvertebrates, freshwater fish, and algal phyla to genus level, enhancing ecological data precision and biodiversity monitoring.
• Utilized both plotless and plot-based sampling techniques, optimizing data collection methods for diverse aquatic environments.
• Conducted comprehensive quantitative and qualitative collections of algal and macroinvertebrate samples, providing robust datasets for ecological analysis.
• Applied short-term toxicity assessment methods to evaluate the chronic impact of effluents and receiving waters on freshwater organisms, ensuring environmental protection.
• Prepared and analyzed soft algae and diatom samples for microscopic examination and applied the Utermöhl method to phytoplankton analysis for high-resolution data.

Kent, Ohio, United States

• Led water quality experiments, designing and executing studies to assess key environmental parameters.
• Performed precise analyses of chlorophyll-a, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and pH levels to monitor ecosystem health and water quality.
• Managed and maintained laboratory equipment, ensuring all tools were in optimal condition for consistent, reliable results.
• Organized and maintained comprehensive records of experimental data, ensuring accuracy and easy retrieval for future analysis and reporting.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Computational Biology, 4.0

Human Anatomy teaching assistant, Diatom culturing, Computational biology, Bioinformatics

Master Of Science - Ms, Evolutionary Biology, 4.0

Teaching Assistant, molecular biology, Cyanobacterial culture collection curator

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Conservation Biology, 3.5