Ruby A. Kaiser Email & Phone Number

Berkeley, California, United States

Operated high throughput isolation pipeline for novel microbe cultivation, including media selection, PCR screening, sequencing sample management, and result interpretation.Cultivated microbes using sterile technique and BSL2 precautions on various media types.Utilized automated liquid handlers (Viaflow, Biomek) and the ZAG system for high throughput PCR analysis.Proficiently coded in R and Python for data analysis and troubleshooting.Contributed insights in weekly meetings, staying informed through literature reviews.Maintained meticulous records, troubleshooting pipeline issues, and suggesting improvements.Designed experiments to enhance microbial isolation techniques and develop new protocols.Engaged in strain engineering using Geneious software for primer design, cloning, and E. coli transformation.Managed vendor interactions for sequencing services and reagent procurement.Assisted in optimizing SOPs for workflow efficiency and reliability.

Petaluma, California, United States

Coordinated the step-down process, transitioning from meristem dissections to fully formed plants.Managed quality control, making decisions regarding hormone and nutrient levels for plants, as well as virus remediation and assaying.Ensured laboratory preparation work, precise plant dissections, and adherence to sterile procedures, maintaining a low contamination rate while working in sterile hoods.Played a key role in training and onboarding new employees, sharing expertise in sterile technique and laboratory procedures.Collaborated with the research and development team to advance projects and achieve objectives, contributing to the overall success of the team.Wrote and implemented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure consistency and quality in laboratory procedures.Regularly used autoclave for sterilization purposes and worked with third-party vendors for sample testing and analysis.

Petaluma, California, United States

Contributed to laboratory preparations, ensuring smooth workflows and efficient operations.Proficiently conducted plant dissections with precision and adhered to sterile procedures.Provided guidance and training to new team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning.Actively participated in collaborative research and development projects, enhancing the team's contributions.

Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland

Conducted research focused on sympatric speciation due to endosymbiotic disruption within mountain leaf beetles as part of a long-term research project spanning several decades.Utilized supercomputer clusters to analyze microbial data, particularly focusing on patterns associated with the microbial species Wolbachia and Spiroplasma.Employed bioinformatics tools such as Mothur and R to analyze 16S rRNA sequences, BWA-mem to map short read sequences to a reference genome, and kraken to assign taxonomic labels to metagenomic sequences.Conducted comparative analyses by comparing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data to 16S sequence results and then correlated these findings with field data collected prior to the study.Contributed to the advancement of scientific knowledge in the field of evolutionary biology and endosymbiotic interactions through rigorous research and analysis.

Gathered, compiled, and meticulously analyzed research data, ensuring accuracy and reliability.Conducted laboratory genetic studies on beetles and their microbial associates, including DNA extraction and library sequencing prep, as well as PCR analysis.Skillfully prepared data for presentation in various formats, including graphics, tables, pictorials, and written reports, ensuring clarity and effectiveness.Authored analytical reports and descriptive, non-technical summaries of research findings, communicating results to both technical and non-technical audiences.Wrote grants and designed experiments to secure funding and advance research objectives.Tested bacterial resistance to antibiotics and investigated endosymbiont interactions in beetles, contributing to the understanding of microbial ecology.Regularly ran command-line code for data analysis, troubleshooting issues as needed to ensure the accuracy of results.

Applied computer programs to analyze research data, extracting valuable insights and contributing to the interpretation of findings.Conducted comprehensive fieldwork surveys, specimen collections, and data gathering in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains and other locations.Administered antibiotics to collected specimens to study microbiota and related attributes, enhancing understanding of host-microbe interactions.Collected and cataloged mountain leaf beetles, contributing to decades of population research, and gathered weather and geographical data.Raised specimens in laboratory settings at both low and high elevations, monitoring behavior and tracking growth and development dynamics.Conducted fitness tests on specimens by measuring speed and contributing to studies on adaptation to environmental conditions.Ensured meticulous data collection, including specimen labeling, storage, and maintenance of -80°C frozen conditions.Led a team in daily data collection activities, maintaining data integrity and consistency.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Acquired in-depth knowledge of the organization and its history to deliver persuasive messages during door-to-door canvassing.Successfully secured donations and support from the community through effective communication.

Rohnert Park, California, United States

Maintained and managed the university garden, ensuring its beauty and functionality.Collaborated with a team to create a welcoming and sustainable outdoor space for the campus community.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Played a pivotal role in customer service by greeting patrons, taking orders, and serving food and beverages.Managed phone calls and ensured a pleasant dining experience for guests.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Assisted in setting up lab experiments and examinations for microbiology classes, ensuring smooth operation and educational effectiveness.Contributed to the preparation of lab materials, including streaking bacteria, making agar plates, and media preparation, with proficiency in working with 12 different media types, including those containing bile and sheep's blood.Ensured cleanliness and maintenance of glassware, classrooms, and labs, maintaining a high standard of hygiene and safety.Trained new employees and provided care for laboratory animals, including a variety of species such as salt and freshwater fish, axolotl, sea stars, snails, frogs, lizards, and mealworms, as well as performing cleaning and maintenance tasks for classrooms and laboratories.Maintained stock of media and bacterial specimens, including the protist Phytophthora ramorum responsible for sudden oak death, ensuring proper containment and decontamination protocols were followed.Stained bacteria to identify gram-negative or gram-positive characteristics, prepared slides for student use, and set up various experiments, including chlorophyll extraction.Received laboratory reagents and took inventory, ensuring adequate supplies for ongoing experiments and educational activities.Regularly used the autoclave and performed glass washing to maintain laboratory equipment and supplies in optimal condition.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Conducted comprehensive research on local small STEM businesses, combining library research with direct outreach to the businesses.Gathered information about the businesses' activities, their STEM category, and identified internship opportunities.

Novato, California, United States

Collaborated within the Science and Technology division to contribute to various research tasks.Responsible for handling yeast cultures, including streaking for isolation and maintaining stocks under extreme cold conditions at -80°C.Performed vital lifespan and healthspan analysis on nematodes using microscopy, contributing to the understanding of aging-related processes.Maintained cancer cell lines by diligently refreshing media on a weekly basis to support ongoing experiments.Proficiently prepared agar media, carried out autoclaving, and executed various molecular biology techniques such as PCR, QPCR, and gel electrophoresis.Conducted essential tasks including RNA isolation, DNA ligation, cloning, preparing spotting assays, result documentation, western blotting, and solution preparation, contributing to the ongoing research projects.Demonstrated leadership by training and mentoring new interns and guiding them in research methodologies.Actively participated in lab meetings, fostering a collaborative research environment where findings were discussed.Attended weekly seminars to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements and discoveries in the field of aging research.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Collaborated closely with parents to assess the academic levels of students.Provided personalized instruction in math, science, and reading comprehension to elementary school students.

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Carried out various roles, including food running, serving, hosting, and bussing.Maintained a high level of customer service and ensured smooth dining experiences for restaurant patrons.

Graduate Extended Education

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Cell/Cellular And Molecular Biology

Activities and Societies: Member of MESA, Worked at the Campus GardenChemistry Minor

Associate Of Science - As, Natural Sciences

Activities and Societies: President of Biology Club, Microbiology Lab Assistant, Small STEM Business Researcher

High School Diploma, International Baccalaureate Program

Activities and Societies: President and Founder of STEM club, Secretary of Interact club, Team Captain of Junior Varsity Cross Country