I worked in the Environmental Laboratory at the Engineer Research and Development Center of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers through an ORISE appointment. I conducted modeling work within toxico(pharmaco)kinetics and toxico(pharmaco)dynamics, continuing my modeling interests within both the transport and toxicity fields. Overall, I developed models for the transport of PFAS (environmental contaminants with bioaccumulation potential) within both zebrafish embryos and epithelial cell cultures. I used this work to then inform next-generation quantitative adverse outcome pathway models to predict the negative impacts on a zebrafish population, a tool that can be extended to broader environmental and human health risk assessment.

I had several job responsibilities while being a graduate researcher. My main research was within the cell, tissue, and organ regimes of cryopreservation. I conducted experiments from perfusing porcine kidneys to culturing endothelial cells for toxicity studies. Also, my projects were heavily centered on modeling the transport (kinetics) and toxicity (dynamics) processes found in cryopreservation. I completed 4 papers and 1 book chapter for this work. In conjunction with my main lines of research within cryopreservation, I managed the laboratory I worked in, orchestrated the move of the laboratory, reviewed two manuscripts for publication with my research adviser, mentored and imparted appropriate laboratory practices to undergraduate and graduate students, and completed two side freeze drying projects and helped start a side hibernation project.

I was a teaching assistant for seven quarters in several different classes. I oversaw and setup undergraduate laboratory experiments, led supplementary teaching sessions, and graded student assignments in a timely manner. Whenever possible, I reiterated my problem solving approach to students of always rooting a problem in fundamental science.

I was a PhD intern in the Microfluidics Futures Group where I guided my own investigation into a specific research question. I continued to develop new laboratory skills in the BSL-2 laboratory environment, all the while becoming familiar with the research and development industrial setting under the proprietary designation. During my time at HP, I was able to file one patent with my research mentor.

I conducted numerical modeling of the interfacial tension of single-electrolyte solutions. To do so, I taught myself how to program in the Fortran language and interwove user-written and previously developed subroutines.