-Conducted independent dissertation research focused on the development of novel CRISPR-Cas-based DNA biosensing systems in the lab of Dr. David J. Segal-Wrote a 300-page dissertation focused on the evidence supporting noninvasive application of these new biosensing tools to real-time detection and tracking of endogenous repetitive and nonrepetitive genomic loci and chromatin loops in live cells-Achieved primary goals in a collaborative side project with a multidisciplinary research team involving design and development of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting the ADNP syndrome locus in ADNP mammalian cell models where ASOs were found to be effective at upregulating ADNP protein levels-Helped PI recognize over $1,500,000 in grant funding and filed two utility patents with the UC Davis Office of Innovation and Technology Commercialization for these two inventions

This fellowship was my primary source of funding and official title during this time period. Awarded in the College of Biological Sciences at UC Davis to an entering student in every graduate program for prior academic achievement and promise of productive scholarship in graduate school.

In summer 2017, I was offered a paid summer position in the Segal lab before joining the university for the start of my PhD program in September 2017. Here, I started preliminary work on design and characterization of a bipartite DNA biosensor described more fully in the above Graduate Student Researcher role.

Focused on several independent and collaborative research and development projects related to pathogenicity and virulence of quarantined and non-quarantined agricultural pathogens.Learned and applied several techniques including selective strain isolation, rtqPCR, host pathogenicity assays, strain-specific fluorescence analyses, strain-specific cytochrome-c oxidase assays, and peptidoglycan membrane lysis assays. Prepared selective and semi-selective media for bacterial liquid plating assays.

Tested preclinical therapeutics in specific mouse models for a poor prognosis medulloblastoma subtype. The ultimate goal was to develop targeted therapeutics for this medulloblastoma subtype in humans. Investigated function of several biochemical pathways in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Synthesized figures and data visualizations for future publications. Collaborated on two simultaneous projects. Propagated tumor cell lines and stem cell lines and tested potential therapeutic drugs in these cell lines and in mice. Applied techniques including molecular cloning, DNA and RNA transfection and electroporation, PCR, qPCR, Western Blotting, and DNA/RNA extraction and purification to advance both projects.

Summer internship at Fungal Pathogenesis Laboratory and Strawberry Research Center at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Main duties included strawberry yield data collection and analysis as well as basic plant maintenance and care. In addition, laboratory work was conducted involving fungal pathogens afflicting various varieties of strawberries (i.e. macrophomena, botrytis, etc). This included sampling vascular tissue segments for a variety of fungal contaminants using selective media and surveying subsequent plant mortality rates upon inoculation with macrophomena.

Assisted senior plant breeder with trial selections, isolation, purification, and organization of germ plasm/seed, upkeep of greenhouse, categorization of data from genetic lines in Excel and specific company database, and interpretation of Excel data to suggest future research direction.

Undergraduate research apprenticeship in the Roderick laboratory at UC Berkeley. Standard DNA processing/analysis involving DNA isolation, purification, restriction digestion, ligation, PCR, and gel electrophoresis. Assisted with sample processing through Sanger sequencing facility.

Conducted biochemical assays for pH, resistance to force, hue (spectrophotometer), and carbohydrate levels in biometrics research laboratory. Gathered and organized HPLC data in private company database and Microsoft Excel for senior plant breeders.