Customer Success Manager

• May 2023 - Present

Leveraging my interpersonal, technical, and organizational skillsets to support industry-leading customer experiences, deliver scientific seminars, and assist customers in adoption/implementation of optical genome mapping (OGM). OGM is a workflow that combines various technologies to reveal structural variation in a novel way, with the goal to transform the way the world views the genome. Leveraging my interpersonal, technical, and organizational skillsets to support industry-leading customer experiences, deliver scientific seminars, and assist customers in adoption/implementation of optical genome mapping (OGM). OGM is a workflow that combines various technologies to reveal structural variation in a novel way, with the goal to transform the way the world views the genome.

Field Applications Scientist

• May 2022 - Jun 2023

Research Assistant Professor

• Jan 2020 - Jun 2022

My research investigated how taste processing and satiation signals interact within the brain to control food intake. Specifically, I studied the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) within the insular cortex using mouse models paired with in vivo pharmacology, AAV-driven chemogenetics, and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The insular cortex GLP-1 receptors could be stimulated to reduce food intake, but this effect was blunted in conditions in which highly palatable food was available.I also contributed to projects aimed at uncovering the role of ventral striatal subregions (e.g., nucleus accumbens, tubular striatum) in sensory processing and reward-motivated behaviors. I used behavioral neuroscience techniques and intelligent AAV vector application to characterize the nature of connections between subregions of the ventral striatum and their calcium-associated fluorescent signals using fiber photometry. Show less

Lecturer of Neuroanatomy

• Aug 2018 - Jan 2020

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

• Mar 2017 - Aug 2018

Precision application of viral-mediated transgenes to investigate the impact of neurodegenerative conditions and drugs of abuse on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium homeostasis and on the ER proteome. Expertly conducted in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro experiments using AAV-driven calcium indicators. Managed research project, design and execution of experiments, data analysis, and presented data in oral and written formats. Mentored NIH summer interns. Precision application of viral-mediated transgenes to investigate the impact of neurodegenerative conditions and drugs of abuse on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium homeostasis and on the ER proteome. Expertly conducted in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro experiments using AAV-driven calcium indicators. Managed research project, design and execution of experiments, data analysis, and presented data in oral and written formats. Mentored NIH summer interns.

Graduate Student

• Mar 2013 - Dec 2016

Expertly applied behavioral neuroscience techniques to identify stages of estrous cycle and assess antidepressant-like behavioral responses to low-dose ketamine in male and female mice. Employed stereotaxic deliver of viral vectors (AAV) to drive knock-down or over-expression of genes of interest. Conducted molecular biology techniques to isolate DNA, RNA, and protein from specific neural loci; determined concentrations of these isolates and correlated this information to behavior. Managed research projects, designed and executed experiments, and analyzed data. Presented research findings at lab meetings, institution-wide meetings, and national meetings. Collaboratively contributed to and wrote scientific manuscripts with co-authors. Mentored undergraduate students. Show less

Graduate Student

• Jul 2009 - Mar 2013

Effectively designed and completed in vivo experiments aimed at resolving the neural loci of gut-brain communication using viral vector-based (AAV) tract tracing, immunohistochemistry, and behavioral pharmacology. These experiments led to the discovery of a novel, direct neural connection between nuclei traditionally involved in food intake and reward-processing. Effectively designed and completed in vivo experiments aimed at resolving the neural loci of gut-brain communication using viral vector-based (AAV) tract tracing, immunohistochemistry, and behavioral pharmacology. These experiments led to the discovery of a novel, direct neural connection between nuclei traditionally involved in food intake and reward-processing.

Research Assistant

• May 2008 - Jun 2009

Executed in vivo electrophysiology (auditory brainstem responses) paired with immunohistochemistry to determine the intracellular signaling factors of the cell death pathways (e.g., caspase-3) that contribute to noise-induced hearing loss. Team player who trained and managed exceptional undergraduate students.Managed essential laboratory functions including: electrophysiological data collection and analysis, managed critical reagents, wrote lab-specific standard operating procedures, managed and supported experiments for the research group, and maintained electrophysiological and molecular equipment. Show less

Research Assistant

• May 2008 - Oct 2008

Executed psychophysics (olfactory) to examine olfactory detection thresholds in rodents and in humans. Team player who supported and trained undergraduate honors thesis students.Managed essential laboratory functions including: psychophysical data collection and analysis, ensured appropriate supplies were available for researchers, and maintained equipment.