Center for Chemical Regulation and Food SafetyScientific and regulatory consultant for Food Contact Substances, FDA Generally Recognized as Safe submissions, New Dietary Ingredient evaluationsExpert LC-MS analyst for Extractable and Leachable studies, product contaminationExperience in EPA biopesticide/biofumigant/bioherbicide product chemistry analyses

NIH/NICHD IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow in the Porter Lab, Section on Molecular DysmorphologyMy primary objective is to model rare genetic disorders of cholesterol metabolism and lysosomal storage. I am actively connecting metabolic pathways with neurodegenerative diseases that primarily affect children. I use numerous technical molecular biology skills at the lab bench, including nucleic acid extraction, NGS and big data management, transgenic model system management, protein isolation and localization, and more. In addition, I am involved in project management and provide mentoring to multiple trainees in the biological sciences.

Dissertation title: Vitamin E protects developmental gene expression and metabolic networks in zebrafish embryosPhD awarded in Molecular and Cellular Biology, March 20212020 - 2021 Marion T. Tsefelas Graduate Fellow2018 - 2019 Mark Sponenburgh-Linus Pauling Institute Endowed Fellow2017 - 2018 Provost's Distinguished Graduate FellowMy primary goal was to investigate how a deficiency in one nutrient (Vitamin E) can cause a cascade of developmental errors using the zebrafish embryo as a model for conserved vertebrate neurodevelopmental pathways. To do this, I performed and became an expert in:-Nutrition and metabolic sciences, especially those pathways determining embryonic development-CRISPR-cas9 mediated knock-in zebrafish line generation, genotyping and in-crossing to produce homozygotes-DNA extraction, RNA in vitro transcription and in situ hybridization techniques applied to zebrafish embryos -Next Generation Sequencing sample preparation and bioinformatics-Zebrafish husbandry, high-throughput toxicity screening, in vivo model expertise-Developed methods for ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) of small molecules (e.g. Vitamin E, glutathione, amino acids, etc.)-Data analysis and manuscript preparationDuring this journey I also produced presentations and communicated objectives weekly in multiple lab meetings, mentored and supervised 2 undergraduate research interns, wrote 8 publications (4 first author) and 4 conference abstracts, and generated and presented 3 professional society speaking engagements (1 award-winning). I also lead multiple undergraduate biology courses (see below), provided 2 years of service to a professional society as the Vice-Chair of the Trainee Council (SfRBM), and organized a departmental seminar series geared towards professional development.

I was a Lead and assist teacher for multiple laboratory sections (10 hrs teaching/week) each term (3 terms, 9 months total) for the BI21X series, Principles of Biology for life science majors. My feedback from students was consistently above average for the course relative to other teaching assistants each term. I also lead weekly preparatory meetings, collaborated on curriculum design and designed assessments for students each week. Mentor and supervisor to 3 undergraduate teaching interns. Taught during onset of COVID and required a transition to a virtual environment!

Investigated the interaction of dietary fat and Vitamin E in clinical cases of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). I performed this work under the guidance of Dr. Maret G Traber.I performed and became an expert in:-Sample preparation for Vitamin E and Vitamin E metabolite extraction and quantification by UPLC-MS/MS-Pharmacokinetic determination in human subject samples, biosafety-level 2 compliance-Data analysis and presentation of findings weekly to lab group-Mentoring and supervision to 1 undergraduate research intern-2 publications and 1 conference abstract presented at a professional meeting

Thesis title: Lipid metabolism and the broiler chicken: Effect of dietary n-3 fatty acids-Fatty acid extraction, identification and quantitation by gas chromatography (GC)-Thin layer chromatography (TLC) separated lipids and lipidomic profiling by UPLC-MS/MS-Poultry husbandry experience-1 first author publication, 1 conference abstract and 1 award winning professional society speaking engagement

Research focus in immunological method development, specifically to produce a “dip-stick” sandwich ELISA to determine presence of V. tubiashii in ocean water samples. Experience with safety measures in animal sample handling, chemical handling and proper disposal.