Rebecca Key Email and Phone Number

I explore influential drivers of host-bacteria associations across ecological gradients. I use both spatial and temporal datasets and focus on terrestrial bryophytes and marine algae as host organisms🦠 1️⃣ -- Investigating the role of eukaryotic phytoplankton in ecosystem productivity and carbon cycling, using multivariate modeling and network analysis of physiochemical changes and amplicon abundance patterns 🦠 2️⃣ -- Tracking sulfur- and nitrogen-related metabolites and metatranscripts across latitude-restricted spatial gradients in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and North Pacific Oceans🌿 3️⃣ -- Exploring temperature effects on moss-associated bacteria abundances and nitrogen-fixation activity through reciprocal transplantation in Alaska🌐 Collabs1) Compound profiling of sulfur and hormogonium-inducing factors in feathermoss-associated Nostoc isolates2) Identifying orthologous genes linked to marine microbial siderophore production and glycine betaine metabolism3) Characterizing trophic regimes & transcriptomic change of different-sized phytoplankton populations

💉 Assisting with Biogen and United Neuroscience projects involved in the development and testing of novel immunological therapeutics for microsatellite-associated neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and dementia

🐀 Assisting veterinarians and investigative staff in research efforts, animal welfare, and compliance with the university's IACUC department

I am self-taught and create digital drawings featuring microbes and smaller macro-sized organisms, such as hornworts, mosses, and zooplankton. I also offer custom designs for manuscript experiment design and conceptual figures❕▫️Stay tuned for my upcoming personal site, where I’ll showcase available organisms and professional work

Projects I helped with as an undergrad:🧬🦠 Human-Chlamydia protein-protein (PGM1 and serine/threonine kinase) interactions using Bacterial-Two Hybrid systems 🐙🦠 Squid-Vibrio interactions to uncover microbe specificity and establishment🧠🦠 Evaluating Lactobacillus probiotics as a therapeutic agent in traumatic brain injury recovery in rats🌽 Marker assisted-selection in maize to improve silage digestibility in ruminants

🧫 Media prep for clinical and environmental microorganisms for student use🧫 Maintenance of bacterial and archaeal culture and freezer stocks