My 4th year as a postdoctoral researcher in the Rey Lab group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I continued my research on host genetic and dietary impacts on the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid homeostasis in the Diversity Outbred mouse model.

I was a NIH T32 funded postdoctoral trainee in the Metabolism and Nutrition Training Program (MANTP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for my first 3 years as a postdoc. I was a postdoctoral trainee in the Rey Lab group in the Department of Bacteriology. My research examined host genetic and dietary impacts on the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acid homeostasis in the Diversity Outbred mouse model.My current research is exploring how host genetics and diet influence gut microbial density and gut microbial short-chain fatty acid production. I am determining whether gut microbial density and short-chain fatty levels are predictors of gut health.

• Oversaw lab group as senior graduate student.• Coordinated with lab manager about lab inventory, funds for lab media, scheduling for lab instrument use, and lab upkeep.• Initiated annual lab clean up to remove unnecessary or expired lab media, rearrange lab benchtops for optimal uses based on lab experiments, and sorting storage cabinets to correspond with lab space use.• Organized and direct lab meetings; mediate meeting agenda and ensure agenda items are discussed.• Recruited assistance for lab experiments/studies and provide feedback on addressing potential issues or outlining protocols.• Enabled undergraduate and graduate students to provide input and constructive criticism in lab meetings, outside lab meetings, and during studies to build leadership skills.

Mineral Metabolism, Guest Lecturer 09/2019• Conducted guest lecture for in-class and distance education sections composed of 16 graduate students.• Developed a 90-minute lecture on bone metabolism and how calcium and phosphorus metabolism were related to bone health.Comparative Nutrition, GTA 01/2018 - 05/2019• Assisted with 3 semesters of Comparative Nutrition with 2 semesters as distance education GTA (average of 90 students) and 1 semester as in-class GTA (25 students).• Facilitated 1-hour discussion of in-class lectures per week to answer questions and go over exam essay questions to test students’ knowledge.• Managed attendance component of in-class discussions and course web-component to ensure content is updated.• Mediated changes to discussion section from students’ concerns to accommodate lecturing component for helping with understanding concepts of subject matter.Vitamin Metabolism GTA 08/2018 - 12/2018• Assisted instructor as GTA for in-class and distance education sections comprised of 26 graduate students.• Designed and conducted 3 90-minute lectures on thiamin, niacin, and vitamin D.• Communicated with students and answered questions and posted announcements to keep students up-to-date.• Facilitated group discussions for term projects and oversaw students’ progress and gave input throughout semester to prepare them for final presentation.Avian Anatomy and Physiology GTA, 08/2017 - 12/2017• Supported instructor as GTA for lectures and lab components with class comprised of 1 graduate and 8 undergraduate students.• Discussed with instructor ideas to engage students which led to scheduled field trip to North Carolina’s Museum of Natural Science (Raleigh, NC) to enrich students’ knowledge of bird skeletons and adaptations.• Developed and delivered 7 45-minute lectures on topics of: avian skeleton and bone development, muscle anatomy and physiology, introduction and mechanics of flight, and avian gut microbiome.

Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 GTA, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 01/2015 - 05/2016• Instructed 320 students across 4 semesters of second semester human anatomy and physiology labs as lead lecturer for 9 sections.• Collaborated with lab coordinator with setting up labs, providing input on delivery of lab learning outcomes for each lab, and advising other GTAs on pacing of lab time.• Trained 3 new GTAs with helping students on lab experiments and teaching sections.• Assisted with proctoring 3 lecture exams and class final, lab exam setups, proctoring lab exams, and grading.• Prepared an average of 4 dissected cats for blood vessel lab sessions and first lab practical each semester.Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 GTA, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 08/2014 - 12/2014• Instructed 89 students between four lab sections of first semester of human anatomy and physiology.• Lead lecturer for two lab sections and inputted grades, designed quizzes, and set up labs for students.• Oversaw students’ cat dissections for muscle sections.• Proctored and graded lab quizzes and lab exams and proctored 3 lecture exams and final exam.

• Trained students on conducting bacteria-killing assay and protocols to ensure successful results in experiments.• Assisted lab group with preparation of tissue samples for PCR and lab media experiments.• Administered restraint on young chickens for lab experiments and performed cervical dislocation or CO2 asphyxiation to humanely euthanize the chickens.• Organized lab media and routinely cleaned laboratory spaces for experiments.

• Advised students in human anatomy and physiology, microbiology, nutrition, and general chemistry.• Private or group sessions were utilized to strengthen students in academics.• Surveyed 15 former students on class performance and received positive feedback pertaining to course material with grade improvements.