Experience

Lassogen, Inc.

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Scientist II - Synthetic Biology

  • Sep 2022 - Present

  San Diego, California, United States



J. Craig Venter Institute

• United States
• Biotechnology Research
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Postdoctoral Researcher

  • Jan 2022 - Sep 2022

  San Diego, California, United States

• Graduate Student Researcher

  • Aug 2015 - Dec 2021

  La Jolla I worked as a graduate student researcher in Dr. Andrew Allen's lab in the Environmental Genomics group at the J. Craig Venter Institute. Dr. Allen is one of my two advisors for my PhD work at UC San Diego, the other being Dr. Bradley Moore (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Skaggs School of Pharmacy). I use tools from molecular biology, synthetic biology, transcriptomics, enzymology, and analytical chemistry in order to answer questions about toxin production by the diatom… Show more I worked as a graduate student researcher in Dr. Andrew Allen's lab in the Environmental Genomics group at the J. Craig Venter Institute. Dr. Allen is one of my two advisors for my PhD work at UC San Diego, the other being Dr. Bradley Moore (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Skaggs School of Pharmacy). I use tools from molecular biology, synthetic biology, transcriptomics, enzymology, and analytical chemistry in order to answer questions about toxin production by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, a harmful algal bloom-forming genus which routinely blooms along the North American West Coast, impacting fisheries and human health. I also collaborate with other researchers at the J. Craig Venter Institute on various projects relating to synthetic biology, enzymology, and algal biotechnology.



Center for Marine Biotechnology & Biomedicine at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

• Graduate Research Assistant

  • Aug 2015 - Dec 2021

  La Jolla, CA I am a graduate researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) working in the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine under Dr. Bradley Moore. Dr. Moore is one of my two PhD advisors, along with Dr. Andrew Allen (SIO, J. Craig Venter Institute). I use tools from molecular biology, synthetic biology, transcriptomics, enzymology, and analytical chemistry in order to answer questions about toxin production by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, a harmful algal bloom-forming… Show more I am a graduate researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) working in the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine under Dr. Bradley Moore. Dr. Moore is one of my two PhD advisors, along with Dr. Andrew Allen (SIO, J. Craig Venter Institute). I use tools from molecular biology, synthetic biology, transcriptomics, enzymology, and analytical chemistry in order to answer questions about toxin production by the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, a harmful algal bloom-forming genus which routinely blooms along the North American West Coast, impacting fisheries and human health. Show less



Arnold Lab, UGA

• Undergraduate Researcher

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2015

  University of Georgia I studied the aging biological clock in the model system Neurospora Crassa under the direction of Dr. Jonathan Arnold in the Genetics Department at University of Georgia. I designed experiments to test the replicative senescence, chronological senescence, and clock effects of gene mutations.

• Summer Intern

  • May 2014 - Aug 2014

  La Jolla, California I was a summer intern at the J Craig Venter Institute in La Jolla, California, working in the Synthetic Biology division under the guidance of Dr. Philip Weyman. Our group's project involved designing an artificial chromosome/episome for use in marine diatoms. My specific role in the project involved using quantitative PCR along with E coli-based transformation and cloning methods to analyze the size, copy number, and maintenance of an artificial chromosome in the model diatom P tricornutum.



SeaVentures

• United States
• Wellness and Fitness Services

• Sales and Repair Assistant

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  I received orders, stocked shelves, serviced dive computers, helped perform visual inspections (VIPs) of tanks, did basic parts swap for BCDs and masks, managed equipment rental, cleaned the travel bus, took phone calls, scheduled swim and dive classes, assisted with summer day camp for children, and booked trips. Aside from my paid position at SeaVentures, I also assisted with skills demonstration in Open Water scuba classes as a Dive Master in training.