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.
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
Walnut Creek, CA
Certificate of Training
Microbial Genomics and Metagenomics Workshop
Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology
Minor in Marine Biology
Bothell, WA
Associate of Science
Faculty Honors
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
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
Graduate Professional Student Association Research Day
Heat 7 Champion, Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic University
U.S. State Department
Czech Academy of Sciences
Cascadia Community College
Cascadia Community College
Second Class Petty Officer Surface Warfare Qualified
Senior in-rate Qualified
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.
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.
Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton & Ft. Pierce, FL
Taught Lab for General Microbiology and Marine Microbiology and Molecular Biology.
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.
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.
Emerald BioStructures - Bainbridge Island, WA
Purified various proteins by affinity chromatography utilizing the AKTA system.
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.
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.
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.
Microbiology Resource Announcements
Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology
Exploring Marine Microbiomes and Viromes using Shotgun Metagenomics
The Microbial Diversity of the IRL from a Metagenomic Perspective
A Comparative Metagenomic Analysis of Leiodermatium Sponges
The Indian River Lagoon Microbial Community
Marine Natural Products: From the Seafloor to the Medicine Cabinet
Shotgun Metagenomics of Marine Environments
A Shotgun Perspective of the Microbial Diversity in the Indian River Lagoon
A Metagenomic Approach to the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products
A Metagenomic Approach to Predicting Toxin Biosynthesis in Harmful Algal Blooms
Awarded 1st Place in Cellular Biology
Pulling Back the Curtain on the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products
Pulling Back the Curtain on Biosynthesis
in Harmful Algal Blooms
A Metagenomic Approach to the Biosynthesis of Marine Natural Products
Awarded People's Choice Award for Heat 7