NIH T32 TraineeUtilizing cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics, high-throughput genetic manipulation, and modern computational techniques to characterize the molecular mechanisms of neural plasticity.

• Conducted primary bioinformatic analysis and presented findings for multiple translational single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) studies of myeloid immune cells in the context of liver disease and viral infection. This includes industry-sponsored (Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Boehringer-Ingelheim) and federally-funded studies.• Developed and executed bioinformatics pipeline for multi-center scRNAseq study with the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ—Lusaka, Zambia), including generation of libraries, sequencing, alignment, quality control, and analysis of scRNAseq data.• Participated in writing, editing, and preparing manuscripts, grants, presentations, and posters.• Processed, stored, and cataloged clinical samples to support ongoing translational immunological studies.• Performed cell culture and tissue staining assays for the validation and support of ongoing translational scRNAseq studies.

• Wrote implementations of data visualization, analysis, and curation tools to improve spike sorting of next generation electrophysiological recordings.• Received Student Research Award (stipend) to pursue applications of feature reduction methods in Droplet-based single cell RNA-sequencing data and enhance subsequent classification of neuronal types.• Collaborated on the improvement of cutting-edge software tools with other research groups, training users and facilitating better curation and analysis of electrophysiological recordings.• Presented and discussed current academic research in journal club covering a variety of topics in the fields of neuroscience, genomics, electrophysiology, and optogenetics.

• Implemented particle detection, morphological image processing, and optical system analysis algorithms.• Extracted quantitative results from interferometric recordings of biological nanoparticle/protein microarray assays, enabling quantitative, label-free, dynamic detection of biomarkers.• Designed automated image processing and visualization tools to assist with real-time reporting of assay results.• Created firmware for custom interferometric optical characterization system.

• Configured data processing pipeline for morphological analysis and cell registration of confocal/multiphoton images of mouse analogs of Down syndrome.• Conducted sectioning, staining, and imaging of neural tissue samples.