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Ph.D. Candidate at Florida Atlantic University using metagenomics to explore marine ecosystems and the biosynthesis of marine natural products.

Experienced molecular biologist, bioinformatician, and U.S. Navy veteran who enjoys working with a diverse collaborative team.

Proficient using conda environments, docker containers, AWS, Linux, macOS, Bash, R, Python.

Skilled in biotechnology, bioinformatics, microbiology, and molecular biology.

Passionate about sustainability, conservation, environmental stewardship, and science education.

Excellent troubleshooting and communication skills. Superb organizer and record-keeper. Self-motivated.

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Education
Honors
Experience
Publications
Presentations

Education


2017 - Present

Florida Atlantic University

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute - Ft. Pierce, FL

  • Ph.D. Candidate in Integrative Biology

  • Master of Science in Integrative Biology

  • Thesis: A Metagenomic Analysis of the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products.

  • Advisor: Dr. Tracy Mincer

Mar 2019

DOE Joint Genome Institute

Walnut Creek, CA

  • Certificate of Training

  • Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Workshop

2009 - 2011

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

  • Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology

  • Minor in Marine Biology

2007 - 2009

Cascadia Community College

Bothell, WA

  • Associate of Science

  • Faculty Honors

2002 - 2003

Naval Nuclear Power Training Command

Goose Creek, SC and Ballston Spa, NY

  • Electrician's Mate 'A' School - Class Leader

  • Nuclear Power School - Graduated top half

  • S8G Nuclear Prototype - Qualified first in section

1997 - 2001

Newman Catholic High School

Mason City, IA

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Fellowships, Honors, and Awards


2019 - 2022

Indian River Lagoon

Graduate Research Fellowship

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute

Jun 2019

Graduate Diversity Fellowship

Florida Atlantic University

Apr 2019

1st Place Award in

Cellular Biology Poster Presentation

Florida Atlantic University

Graduate Professional Student Association Research Day

Oct 2018

People's Choice Award in

Three Minute Thesis Competition

Heat 7 Champion, Florida Atlantic University

2017 - 2019

Presidential Fellowship

Florida Atlantic University

2012 - 2013

Fulbright Student Fellowship

U.S. State Department

Czech Academy of Sciences

Jun 2009

Faculty Honors

Cascadia Community College

2008

Presidential Honors

Cascadia Community College

Nov 2007

Honorable Discharge from U.S. Navy

Second Class Petty Officer Surface Warfare Qualified

Senior in-rate Qualified

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Work and Research Experience


2017-2022

Graduate Research Assistant

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute - Ft. Pierce, FL

Metagenomic analysis of marine environments to discover biosynthetic gene clusters producing secondary metabolites using metagenomic workflow: including environmental DNA extraction, next-generation sequencing (short-read Illumina), preprocessing (fastqc, multiqc, bbtools, RQCFilter2), de Bruijn graph assembly (metaSPAdes, megaHIT, IDBA-UD, metaQUAST, CD-HIT), read- based taxonomy (Kaiju, MetaPhlAn, sourmash, BLAST+), mapping (bbmap, bowtie2), genome binning (MetaBAT2, MaxBin2, Concoct, BinSanity, DASTools, VirSorter2, vContact2, checkM, checkV), genome annotation (Anti-SMASH, BigScape, GTDB-tk, Prokka, MG-RAST).

Check out my GitHub profile for more details.

2021

Graduate Research Assistant

Florida Ocean Alliance - Remote

Designed, wrote, and published the quarterly newsletter, Florida Ocean News, for a non-profit organization. Developed a new Squarespace website. Collaborated with a 26-member Board of Directors for media content. Communicated to a diverse audience the latest local, state, and federal ocean news and its impact on Florida's Blue Economy, ocean and coastal resilience, and human and natural infrastructure.

2017 - 2019

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton & Ft. Pierce, FL

Taught Lab for General Microbiology and Marine Microbiology and Molecular Biology.

2013 - 2016

Production Engineer

Valent BioSciences Corporation - Osage, IA

Subject Matter Expert in DeltaV distributed control system, continuous sterilization, and large-scale microbial fermentation. Let root cause investigations using the 6σ DMAIC process to improve production processes. Wrote standard operating procedures and batch records for new equipment and processes. Developed a training program for a 35-person operations department.

2012 - 2013

Fulbright Fellow

Institute of Experimental Botany

Czech Academy of Sciences - Prague, CZ

Researched the regulation of reactive oxygen species by demonstrating a protein interaction between NADPH oxidase and Rop GTPases in growing pollen tubes of Nicotiana tobacum using yeast two-hybrid screening, GST-pulldown, and fluorescent proteins.

  • Genetically cloned, expressed, and purified recombinant proteins.

  • Transformed pollen with DNA utilizing the Biolistic Particle Delivery System.

  • Operated confocal microscope to perform Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer.

2012

Internship

Emerald BioStructures - Bainbridge Island, WA

Purified various proteins by affinity chromatography utilizing the AKTA system.

2010

Internship

Department of Experimental Plant Biology

Charles University - Prague, CZ

Investigated proetin interactions between NADPH oxidase and Rop GTPases within Arabidopsis thaliana using yeast two-hybrid.

2009 - 2011

Lab Aide & Undergraduate Researcher

Basic Sciences Division

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - Seattle, WA

Investigated protein interactions between UpSET and unknown transcription factor in Drosophila melanogaster using GST pull-down assay that provided information about the structure of this protein complex.

2003 - 2007

Nuclear Electrician's Mate

Second Class Petty Officer

USS Harry S. Truman, Reactor Electrical Division

United States Navy

Qualified senior supervisory watch station, Shutdown Reactor Operator, Switchgear Operator, Propulsion Electrician, Throttleman, Ship's Generator Watch, and Log Recorder. Coordinated watch team efforts to shift electrical plant at sea and in port. Worked with a team of 30 personnel to operate a nuclear power plant safely and efficiently during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Organized and directed the Reactor Electrical training program, which obtained above-average scores during the Operational Reactor Safety Exam.

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Publications ORCID id


2022

mBio

Uncovering Lasonolide A biosynthesis using genome-resolved metagenomics

BioRxiv

2021

Florida Ocean News

Quarterly News & Updates

Vol. 1, Issue 1

Vol. 1, Issue 2

Vol. 1, Issue 3

Microbiology Resource Announcements

Genome Sequence of Streptomyces sp. Strain HB-N217, isolated from the Marine Sponge Forcepia sp.

Paper

KBase Narrative

2020

Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

Unlocking a new target for Streptomycetes strain improvement

Paper

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Presentations


2022

FAU Marine Science Friday

Exploring Marine Microbiomes and Viromes using Shotgun Metagenomics

Indian River Lagoon Symposium

The Microbial Diversity of the IRL from a Metagenomic Perspective

Marine Natural Products Gordon Research Seminar

A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Leiodermatium Sponges

2021

Florida Association of Environmental Professionals Annual Conference

The Indian River Lagoon Microbial Community

HBOI Marine Science Friday

Marine Natural Products: From the Seafloor to the Medicine Cabinet

2020

FAU Marine Science Seminar

Shotgun Metagenomics of Marine Environments

Indian River Lagoon Symposium

A Shotgun Perspective of the Microbial Diversity in the Indian River Lagoon

2019

HBOI Science Seminar

A Metagenomic Approach to the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products

FAU Graduate Professionals Student Association Research Day

A Metagenomic Approach to Predicting Toxin Biosynthesis in Harmful Algal Blooms

Awarded 1st Place in Cellular Biology

HBOI Ocean Discovery Visitor's Center

Pulling Back the Curtain on the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products

Indian River Lagoon Symposium

Pulling Back the Curtain on Biosynthesis

in Harmful Algal Blooms

2018

Three Minute Thesis Competition

A Metagenomic Approach to the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products

Awarded People's Choice Award for Heat 7

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Disclaimer: This is a personal webpage. The ideas and information expressed on it have not been approved or authorized by Florida Atlantic University either explicitly or by implication. In no event shall Florida Atlantic University be liable for any damages whatsoever resulting from any action arising in connection with the use of this information or its publication, including any action for infringement of copyright or defamation.


I acknowledge and pay respects to the Elders and Traditional Owners of the land.

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