I worked closely with a diverse, cross-functional team of data scientists, software engineers, and hardware engineers on development of our microbial evolution platform to meet company goals.I designed and performed experiments, collaborating with coworkers and customers on overall project design and data analysis. I worked with leadership to assess proposals from potential customers and in developing in house projects. I was responsible for design and layout, equipment evaluation and selection, set up, and management of the microbiology lab. I trained coworkers in microbiology techniques and lab safety.

Working in the lab of Dr. Sam Brown as lab manager, molecular biologist, project manager, trainer, and mentor.I investigated microbial ecology and interactions with sequence-based and microbiological techniques. I managed all aspects of the lab, including interfacing with various regulatory groups (IRB, biosafety committee, rDNA, environmental health and safety), purchasing supplies, and maintaining equipment, as well as managing numerous undergraduate and graduate students. I also managed externally funded projects, resulting in multiple publications and further successful funding applications.

Bioinformatics with Burkholderia species and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, BSL2 bench work with Burkholderia thailandensis and Burkholderia cepacia complex species and P. aeruginosa. Performing lab management duties (daily ordering, capital equipment ordering, arranging equipment maintenance, etc).

Burkholderia research in BSL2 labs, Burkholderia and Pseudomonas bioinformatics

I investigated gene expression of Burkholderia species and fungal pathogens, and managed bacterial genome sequencing projects. I managed technicians to ensure external collaborations continually met their deadlines.

I earned my Ph.D. in 2006 at Virginia Tech in the lab of Dr. Stephen Melville studying the physiology and pathogenesis of the anaerobic spore-former, Clostridium perfringens. My initial studies focused on characterizing the regulation of endospore formation (Varga, Stirewalt, and Melville, 2004). Later studies included the first identification of type IV pili in a Gram-positive bacterium (Varga et al, 2006) and their role in biofilm formation of C. perfringens (Varga, Therit and Melville, 2008). This work required the routine use of molecular biology techniques such as cloning and PCR and the development of assays and protocols modified for use with a strict anaerobe. In addition to publication, I also presented my work at regional, national and international conferences. I mentored several undergraduate and graduate students during this time and taught lab classes for general microbiology and pathogenic bacteriology.

In the fall of 2004 I taught a section of pathogenic bacteriology lab to ~20 students.

For the 2001 academic year I taught 2 sections of general microbiology lab each semester to ~30 students per section. Responsibilities included lab set up, lecturing, and grading.

As an undergraduate researcher in the lab of Dr. Michael Kotarski I performed molecular biology experiments to identify Drosophila melanogaster gene homologs in related Drosophila species.In the lab of Dr. Mark Gallo I investigated regulation of gene expression of secondary metabolites in Streptomyces.