Sr. Project Manager for Axiom Genotyping Platform.

Project: The Seed Gene Project (funded by the National Science Foundation)Advisors: Dr. Robert Goldberg (UCLA), Dr. John Harada (UC-Davis)Characterized transcription factors and gene networks involved in soybean seed development; analyzed phenotypes associated with seed-specific gene knock outs.Comparative gene profiling using soybean and Arabidopsis genomicsCharacterized the stomata cell lineage pathway in developing cotyledon seed tissue.Characterized genes involved in seed coat development.

Adviser: Dr. David SomersProject Lead at Monsanto for a unique NSF-funded collaboration with Dr. Robert Goldberg (UCLA) and Dr. John Harada (UC-Davis). The goal of this collaborative effort was to suppress novel seed-specific transcription factors with RNAi that were identified by the academic discovery team. In this highly coordinated effort, I was responsible for gathering data from the discovery team and then designing and building test constructs to run through the Monsanto high-throughput transgenic soybean pipeline. I worked closely with the Monsanto transgenic facility, to deliver high quality transgenic events and collect data and tissue samples to transfer back to the discovery team for follow up studies. I set up the experimental design and a team to run the screening experiments at Monsanto, coordinated each experiment through the pipeline, analyzed results alongside the discovery team, and worked closely with the Monsanto legal team to transfer data and materials back to the discovery team.Screened RNAi suppression lines for developmental and physiological mutations associated with plant and seed development. Isolated and characterized four mutant lines for seed and plant developmental defects.Designed and implemented an RNAi-gene suppression screen to knock out putative transcription factors involved in seed development in soybean using stable RNAi transgenes.Designed and cloned reporter constructs and characterized expression profiles during seed developmentRNAi gene suppression technology, base vector and reporter cloning and development, recombinant protein construction, whole genome profiling, comparative genomics, seed and plant development, assay development, promoter characterization, high throughput transgenic technologies, biotechnology cross-functional team structures, external collaborations, intellectual property, and project management.

Advisor: Dr. Catherine A. FoxBiomolecular Chemistry Dept.Epigenetic modifications in yeast, silent chromatin, protein biochemistry, protein expression and purification, homologous recombination, yeast genetics, structural biology, and protein-protein interactions, and protein-DNA interactions.Protein tagging and purification.Explored protein-protein interactions associated with the epigenetic modifications that regulate silent chromatin initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Genetically and structurally characterized a novel functional domain in the N-terminus of the Silent Information Regulator protein, Sir1, which helps facilitate binding the Orc1 subunit of the Origin Recognition Complex (ORC). Proposed a novel protein conformational-switching model for Sir1 activity that regulates the ORC1 interaction.

Advisor: Roger W. InnesSSLP mapping of pathogenic resistance genes in the Arabidopsis thaliana using PCR-based techniques. Conducted a genetic screen to isolate mutations in soybean resistance genes. General Lab manager