Olivia Thompson, Phd Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

• Act as study lead for custom studies and provide feedback for protocols with a client-focused mentality.• Leverage expertise on qPCR method validation, assist with assay development, suitability testing, and raw data analysis to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) including quality control testing.• Perform various tasks and testing in compliance with applicable regulations, policies, international standards, and SOPs: FDA, USP, and AATCC.• Review client order contracts, assign Sample Test Instruction (STI), and review laboratory data.• Perform sample testing including microbial enumeration and screening, antimicrobial test methods, suitability of test methods, microbial limits, viable spore count, and custom studies.• Utilize StarLIMS for traceability of samples, laboratory data, reports, supplies and equipment.• Perform all tasks in accordance with and/or following cGMP, GDP and GLP.• Related skills include general microbiology, cell culturing and organism preparation (E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, B. subtilis, Clostridium, Neisseria and H. influenzae, etc), qPCR.

Advisor: Dr. Joy Doran-Peterson• National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow• Characterized Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains evolved for high solids pretreated pine wood fermentations through various molecular biology techniques • Bioinformatically identified 52 potentially novel genetic targets for improved inhibitory compounds tolerance through comparative transcriptomics and comparative genomics• Managed lab chemical inventory for UGA Chematix database• Supervised graduate and undergraduate students’ research projects and work-study students• Presented results orally at scientific conferences and at outreach events to general audiences • Published manuscript and presented at Wind River conference and annually at Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (SIMB) Conference

Athens, Ga

Microbiology and Health Care Laboratory, MIBO 2500L, Fall 2017, Spring 2018• Taught students microbiology laboratory techniques while focusing on the nature of select microorganisms as they relate to infectious diseases and clinical research• Designed and delivered curriculum and lectures for two academic semesters• Encouraged critical thinking through strategies modified to reach diverse groups of students • Utilized Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) production resources to produce and record course media contentIntroductory Microbiology, MIBO 3500, Fall 2019• Assisted in lecture-based course with special emphasis on bacteria, their structure, function, diversity, and importance• Coordinated case-studies to relate course material to current faculty research• Utilized education technologies Kahoot! and Packback to encourage participation and discussions

Under the direction of Dr. Timothy Tschiplinski of Bioenergy Science Center• Performed bench-scale fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Clostridium thermocellum, and Caldicellulosiruptor bescii with natural and transgenic variants of switchgrass, Agave, and Populus.• Performed biomass pretreatments, quantitative saccharification, and HPLC analysis to examine carbohydrate composition and fermentation yields• Mentored and trained REU students on analytical techniques• Contributions have led to the discovery of superior performing plant feedstocks for the biofuel crops, several publications, and has been featured at conferences including Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals (SBFC) and Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG)

Under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Mielenz• Investigated ethanol and butanol production with Agave, Populus, and switchgrass by pretreatments, quantitative saccharification, and fermentations with various analytical techniques with advanced microbes to determine benefits of both genetic modification and natural selection for use in biofuel production.

Volkswagen Distinguished Scholar Internship, National Transportation Research CenterUnder the direction of Dr. Teresa Barone: R&D on technique to directly analyze soot from vehicle emissions which resulted in a safe, efficient, simplified, less wasteful alternative.

Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Under the direction Dr. Elena Shpak: Investigated effects of mutations in ERECTA gene on inter- and intra-layer cell growth using Arabidopsis pedicels. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Microbiology, General, 3.9 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Microbiology Graduate Student Association (MGSA), Treasurer Graduate and Professional Scholars (GAPS) Women.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Biological Sciences- Microbiology, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Alpha Phi Omega, Tennessee Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, Educational Advancement Program.