Nationally board certified Microbiologist currently serving as a subject matter expert and Associate Director of Quality Control for Vaccine production at Merck.

Intensive two year training program in all areas of medical microbiology, public health, and laboratory leadership.

Oversaw a large multi-disciplinary team in establishing a comprehensive research and drug discovery platform. Highlights include:-Established a collaboration with Mass. General Hospital to procure tissue and stool samples from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients.-Built an archived collection of thousands of bacterial isolates to use in a natural product discovery pipeline.-Implemented MALDI-TOF Biotyper system for the rapid identification of bacterial species isolated from IBD patients.-Extensively profiled microbial products for disease relevant immune activity.-Organized and led weekly project update meetings.

Research Overview:Trillions of microorganisms colonize the human gastrointestinal tract and live in a mutually beneficial relationship with their host, predominantly in a state of homeostasis. However, homeostasis is often interrupted by physiological inflammation resulting from diverse events (e.g. Pathogenic infection, Antibiotics, Toxins) eliciting elaborate immune barriers that allow growth of beneficial commensal organisms while eliminating others. Previous studies have established that commensal organisms quickly out-compete and are required for the elimination of deleterious organisms, promoting homeostasis and health. My long-term research interest focuses on two related and unexplored topics, understanding how gut microbiota persist despite host defenses and exploring how interindividual variation in human gut microbial communities impact predisposition to infection and disease.

Research Overview:Identified and described the molecular mechanisms used by enteric pathogens (i.e. H. pylori, C. jejuni) to circumvent host detection, disseminate, and cause disease. Dissertation Title: Membrane remodeling in epsilon proteobacteria and its impact on pathogenesis.

Worked in all areas of this dynamic and high volume reference laboratory.Responsibilities: - Executed and analyzed test in microbiology, immunology, chemistry, and hematology.- Established protocols in compliance with CLIA and CAP guidelines.- Operated high-throughput robotic systems (Immulite 200XPI, BioCel1800, EPmotion5075, etc.)- Monitored quality control and assurance standards in laboratory work-flow beginning at sample procurement through result validation and reporting.

Worked in all areas as the only medical laboratory scientist on staff in this rural hospital.Responsibilities:- Responsible for all laboratory diagnostic activities.- Interacted with patients having diverse medical conditions to secure samples and explain procedures.- Assisted physicians with interpretation of laboratory findings and determining a diagnosis.