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.
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
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
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.
Publications ORCID id
Microbiology Resource Announcements
Genome Sequence of Streptomyces sp. Strain HB-N217, isolated from the Marine Sponge Forcepia sp.
2020
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology
Unlocking a new target for Streptomycetes strain improvement
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
