Joyah Watkins, Ms Email & Phone Number

Houston, Texas, United States

Colorado, United States

I worked closely with the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (Oslo, Norway) and Witts University (Johannesburg, South Africa) to develop sustainable management solutions for seawater desalination plants. My work entailed the implementation of eDNA to assess brine impact on marine life.

I maintained a teaching lab (10-20 students) by helping students in their manipulations during laboratory experiments regarding the transformation of yeast cell, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This semester long course provides students an introductory to common procedures and techniques utilized in molecular biology. Such procedures include but are not limited to: Yeast transformation using plasmid DNA, Extraction of DNA-binding domain of receptor, assembling and performing SDS gels, performing a Northern and Western Blot, utilizing PCR and qPCR, developing cDNA, and microarray hybridization.• I assisted the course professor in laboratory research pertaining to developmental and molecular biology of lichens: the symbiosis of fungi and cyanobacteria.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

• Observe the evolution and ecology of coastal invertebrate Nematostella vectensis by utilizing standard laboratory procedures. • Perform weekly spawn by incubating organisms.• Perform acute and chronic toxicity testing of tBHQ and tBOOH on organisms to observe developmental and reproductive behavior. • Assist Lab Director and other professors in daily operations of the research lab.• Assist graduate students with upcoming research projects and additional duties assigned.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina

• Investigated Symbiodinium diversity across different thermal regimes along the Belize Barrier Reef System• Employed metabarcoding and next-generation sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene (ITS-2) of Symbiodinium across three species of reef-building corals (Pseudodiploria strigosa, Siderastrea radians, and Siderastrea siderea)• Performed DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, PCR, and PCR clean up. • Performed data analysis in R: Statistical Computing Software. • Supervised and mentored high school students in molecular laboratory protocols (i.e. DNA extractions, gel electrophoresis, and PCR Cleanup).

Charleston, South Carolina Area

• Conducted field and scientific research regarding marine and estuarine animals, particularly American eels. • Observed health assessment and sex ratio of American eels, Anguilla rostrata, by performing histology and evaluating parasitic organism, Anguillicoloides crassus.• Collaborated with graduate students to assist with various research projects.• Presented final scientific research to the faculty and staff of SC Department of Natural Resources.• Comprised manuscript of final research.

Master'S Degree, Ecology And Evolutionary Biology

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Biology, General

Activities and Societies: Independent Research