I study the molecular mechanisms involved in the interaction between wheat stem rust fungi (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici) and bread wheat (Triticum aestivum). Using molecular and bioinformatic techniques, I work to understand how this fungal pathogen is able to successfully infect wheat, and conversely how wheat can detect and defend against the fungi.

I managed 10 sections of the Biology 313 (principals of genetics) Laboratory for undergraduate biology majors at Iowa State University. I supervised 4 graduate and 20 undergraduate teaching assistants as we taught students molecular biology concepts using hands-on laboratory exercises. Some techniques and concepts covered included PCR, gel electrophoresis, plasmid construction, cloning, sequencing, protein expression, cell culture, experimental design, and data presentation.

My research centers on understanding the molecular mechanisms that allow plant parasitic nematodes to infect their host plants. During my Ph.D. research I have utilized a combination of computational and molecular approaches to successfully identify novel effector proteins secreted by the plant parasitic root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita). I also have used a number of other molecular techniques to characterize how specific effector proteins act to modify host cellular processes to facilitate nematode infection of a plant root. Over the course of this research I have become familiar with, and in some cases quite proficient at, many molecular techniques; including cloning from cDNA, RT-PCR, creation of fusion proteins, plant transformation via agrobacterium infiltration, in situ hybridization, tissue bombardment, western blotting, RNAi, BiFC, and florescent microscopy. I have also had the opportunity to present my research at multiple scientific conferences and meetings

I again worked in Pfizer’s “Cell line development” group. I worked to develop a method of accelerating the adaption of CHO cells to suspension culture after transfection, to try and decrease the time required for a clonal cell line to go from transfection to bioreactor. I again had to produce a poster about my project and present it in a poster session. Though I can’t discuss my results due to my confidentiality agreement, I did become familiar with a number of laboratory techniques and equipment including electroportation, FACs sorting, bioreactors, and mammalian cell culture.

I worked in Pfizer’s “cell line development” group, under the guidance of Maire Caparon. I deleted contaminating host cell proteins in a production strain of E. coli, specifically protein components of LPS and a non-essential protease that was thought to be cleaving a recombinant protein product. I utilized a temperature inducible plasmid to accomplish the deletions, and was able to confirm the deletions through PCR and sequencing data. At the end of my eight-week internship I had to produce a poster about my project, and present it in a poster session to Pfizer’s entire St. Louis plant. As a result of this internship I became familiar with a number of basic laboratory techniques, including sterile technique, PCR, and bacterial culture.