Graduate Researcher
University Of Missouri
Research Interests: Improving plant biotechnology through the use of minichromosomes and site-specific recombinases.Doctoral student in the lab of Dr. Jim Birchler. Focus on methods to improve maize engineering processes. My first project focused on the production of minichromosomes, small chromosomes containing a transgene and a method of selection. The project focused on utilizing binary bacterial artificial chromosome (BiBAC) vectors to create mini chromosomes containing multiple transgress. The ultimate goal was to produce minichromosomes that contain whole gene pathways, which could then be easily transferred between different maize lines. Another focus of research was utilizing recombinases to insert transgenes at specific locations. Utilizing the recombinase phiC31, inserted transgenes could be inserted into previously inserted recombination sites, eliminating the need to screen transgenic lines for optimal insertions. Lastly, I attempted to improve the standard maize transformation and regeneration protocol by reviewing industry patents. While industry protocols are not usually published in traditional journals, it is known in the field that industry scientists are constantly working to improve the technique. By reviewing published patents, I was able to deduce the improvements they made and apply to academic protocols. Research Skills:Molecular techniques including: southern hybridization, fluorescent in-situ hybridization, cloning, PCR, Experimental designMaize regeneration and transformationSoft Skill Training Program: 1.) Selected to participate in a 4 month training program, including a personal coach, Preparing Tomorrow's Leaders for Science (PTLS). The course, provided for a small subset of 14 students at MU, was designed to provide critical soft skills that are otherwise not provided.2.) Selected to participate in a second 4 month training, advanced PTLS, designed to further develop the soft skills provided in the first PTLS course.
