Miguel Rojas Email & Phone Number

United States

Stickney Township, Illinois, United States

Work in MWRD Microbiology Section. This included: Virology, Parasitology and Molecular and Analytical Bacteriology LaboratoryTrained to analyze microbial communities in environmental samples from mixed liquor batteries for all seven water reclamation plants in the MWRD, as well as treated and untreated effluent wastewater samples, Tunnel and Reservoir (TARP) samples, Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), and biosolids from wastewater sludge to test for and enumerate: culturable viruses, filamentous bacteria, helminths, metazoan and protozoan species, shelled amoeba, zooglea, polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms (PAO and GAO) as well as total coliform and fecal coliformTrained in methods used for the recovery and assay of total culturable viruses and also the detection, enumeration and viability of Ascaris ova from wastewater, sludge and sludge products that comply with methods in EPA/625/R-92/013, Appendix HBacteriological methods and techniques: microscopic counts, gram staining, selective staining for phosphate accumulating organisms, heterotrophic plate counts with pour plate and spread plate, bacterial culture, multiple tube fermentation, selective membrane filtration medium for the cultivation and enumeration of fecal coliforms and total coliforms on m-FC and m-Endo plates, fecal coliform colony confirmation with LTB and EC broth in Durham tubes.Virology methods and techniques: eluting total culturable virus recovery from biosolids, initiation and maintenance of BGM-K cell cultures (passage and expansion), assay for plaque-forming viruses, inoculation of BGM-K cell culture plates with P1S cultures, positive recovery controls and sample eluates, and plaque confirmation assay:Molecular methods and techniques: DNA isolation and quantification, PCR, Q-PCRParasitology methods and techniques: isolation, microscopic enumeration and determining the viability of helminth, Ascaris ova, in biosolids

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Investigated the impacts of land-use as well as the identity of associated algal species on the composition and activity of benthic bacterial communities from freshwater ecosystemsPlayed an active role in research projects (writing proposals, designing studies, collecting data, analyzing results and contributing to research publications)Sampled freshwater bacterial communities and microbial biofilms across a variety of substrates (glass, aluminum, plastic, cardboard, used leaves, cellulose sponge, ceramic tiles, water column and sediment) Used molecular biology methods to isolate DNA and analyzed sequence data to examine bacterial community structureQuantified activity and function of freshwater microbial communities. Estimated abundance of entire bacterial communities as numbers within a population that facilitated processes within freshwaterMeasured resistance to antimicrobials by communities from different freshwater habitats Analyzed data and generated figures, including graphs and charts, for use in publications and thesisDeveloped new protocols and adjusted existing protocols for the labCo-authored papers to publish results in academic journals, wrote and defended research project for thesisAttended and presented research findings at weekly lab meetings as well as at annual local and national conferences in microbiology, aquatic science and environmental toxicology

Chicago, Illinois

Maintained and updated Dr. Aguirre’s collection of freshwater fish from Ecuador and Alaskan three spine sticklebackPerformed DNA extractions of Alaskan three-spine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, using a Phenol-Chloroform based methodRan PCR on a DNA from collected specimens that would be sent out for sequencing

Chicago, Illinois

Contributed to the Biological Research Collections (BRC) Project, aimed at improving the collection of current bryophyte and lichen specimens through an online database and making it more accessibleSupervised and mentored new high school and college student interns Collected, identified, and measured abundance of macro fungi in previously set up experimental plots with the purpose of studying the impacts of atmospheric nitrogen on soil fungal communities

Chicago, Illinois

Learned basic research methods gained from conducting an individual research project Objective: To look at the effect that the type and concentration of metals used as dopants in a titanium dioxide semiconductor had on the efficiency of the solar cellsPresented weekly reports on progressParticipated in a poster session at the end of the year for all interns in the programScience outreach and offered tutoring to middle school students in San Miguel School in the Austin neighborhood, Chicago, IL.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Summer internship at Lawndale Christian Health Center working an HIV Community Outreach Intern. Providing information, tests and offered resources to members of the community in the North Lawndale, South Lawndale, and Garfield Park neighborhoods.

Master Of Science (Ms), Biology With Emphasis On Microbial Ecology, Gpa — 3.856

Activities and Societies: American Society for Microbiology, National Science Foundation Graduate FellowInvestigated the impacts.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Gpa — 3.631

Activities and Societies: Honors Program

High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate

Activities and Societies: Soccer, National Honor Society, Science Club, Band

High School Diploma