Experience

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  University of South Carolina

  • Columbia, South Carolina, United States

  • Assistant Professor

    • Jul 2023 - Present
    • Columbia, South Carolina, United States

    Assistant Professor(Tenure-Track)Department of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsArnold School of Public HealthUniversity of South CarolinaI study drugs, germs, and justice.I teach Infectious Disease Epidemiology.

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  Point Loma Nazarene University

  • San Diego, California, United States

  • Adjunct Faculty (Biology, Chemistry)

    • Aug 2019 - Present
    • San Diego, California, United States

    Courses Taught:Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry (CHE1004)Readings in Biology: Infectious Disease (BIO6021)Biotechnology and Society (BIO1004)

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  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

  • Baltimore, Maryland, United States

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow

    • Aug 2021 - Jul 2023
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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  The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  • San Diego, California, United States

  • T32 Predoctoral Research Fellow

    • Jan 2020 - Jun 2021
    • San Diego, California, United States

    I designed and conducted original analyses, scientific writing and disseminate findings for research related to injection drug use, harm reduction, policing practices, and HIV prevention in the US-Mexico border region. I completed my dissertation work funded through a NIH T32 predoctoral fellowship (National Institute of Drug Abuse Grant #T32DA023356, PI:Strathdee) on the topic of HIV and substance use.

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  UC San Diego

  • United States
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Graduate Student Researcher

    • Aug 2017 - Jan 2020

    I oversaw and participated in analytical activities for the SHIELD study (Proyecto Escudo), a police education intervention to align drug enforcement practices and HIV prevention among police officers and people who inject drugs in Tijuana (R01DA039073; PI:Strathdee) I coordinated research activities for a team of ~20 field staff, postdocs, statisticians and researchers. I conducted epidemiological data analysis, public health risk assessments and disseminated research findings related to a cohort of police officers and PWID in Tijuana. Additionally, I provided scientific writing for grants and manuscripts related to and other research related to harm reduction, policing practices, opioid overdose and HIV risk among PWID.

  • Program Manager

    • Aug 2015 - Dec 2017

    For the Division of Infectious Disease in the Department of Medicine, I provide research writing, analysis, and project coordination support for research related to the Primary HIV Infection Research Consortium (PIRC). Located at UCSD's Antiviral Research Center, I develop and write research protocols and designs for studies, prepare manuscripts and reports, conduct statistical analyses, assist with research grant submission, write, update and revise informed consent content, and provide general research management.

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  International Rescue Committee

  • Kono, Sierra Leone

  • Surveillance Manager - Ebola Response Consortium

    • Nov 2014 - Feb 2015
    • Kono, Sierra Leone

    I served as the surveillance manager for all the INGO's working in the Ebola Response Consortium. Main responsibilities included providing technical and logistical support to Ebola case investigation, contact tracing supervision, epidemiological data analysis and the development/implementation of Community Event-Based Surveillance for Ebola in Sierra Leone.

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  Westchester County Department of Health

  • New Rochelle, NY

  • Disease Control Officer

    • May 2013 - May 2014
    • New Rochelle, NY

    I create and manipulate statistical data sets, conduct routine surveillance of communicable diseases, investigate outbreaks and manage cases through the electronic reporting system.

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  Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health

  • New York, NY

  • MPH - Epidemiology

    • Aug 2012 - May 2014
    • New York, NY

    Certificate in Infectious Disease Epidemiology

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  Inova Diagnostics

  • Greater San Diego Area

  • Chemist I, IFA Development

    • 2010 - 2012
    • Greater San Diego Area

    Carol E. Buchner, MT (ASCP), Cassandra C. Bryant, BS, Pieter A. Baker, BS, Rachel A. Rosenblum, BS, Gabriella Lakos, MD, PhD, Rufus W. Burlingame, PhD. 2011. Digital image analysis results show high reproducibility and agreement with human interpretation on HEp-2 cells. Association of Medical Labratory Immunologists 24th Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.

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  Point Loma Nazarene University

  • United States
  • Higher Education
  • 700 & Above Employee

  • Biology Research Associate

    • May 2009 - Aug 2010

    Although the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria has long been considered a problem in the clinical settings, it is not just contained within the walls of a hospital. What is the role of wetland environments on the proliferation and movement of these antibiotic resistance genes?The purpose of this project was to identify and characterize a number of clinically relevant antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria from several local ecological sites of interest in San Diego County. The query is rooted in ongoing studies at these sites that seek to demonstrate a correlation between antibiotic resistant bacteria and the influence of seasonal stormwater. The project deals with concepts in microbiology, environmental biology, bacterial and estuarine ecology and was performed using a variety of microbiology and molecular biology (particularly DNA based) procedures.Presentations:Cummings, D. E., K. F. Archer, D. J. Arriola, P. A. Baker, K. G. Faucett, J. B. Laroya, K. L. Pfeil, C. R. Ryan, K. R. U. Ryan. 2010. Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance (PMQR) Genes in a Sewage-Impacted Coastal Wetland. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, San Diego, CA.Archer, Karisa, David Arriola, Pieter Baker, Grace Faucett, Jonathan Laroya, Jenna Lavenuta, Kelly Pfeil, Cody Ryan, Kelsey Ryan, Douglas Zuill, and David Cummings. 2011. Contamination of the urban coastal environment with plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes. West Coast Biological Sciences Undergraduate Research Conference, Tacoma, WA.Publications:Cummings, D. E., K. F. Archer, D. J. Arriola, P. A. Baker, K. G. Faucett, J. B. Laroya, K. L. Pfeil, C. R. Ryan, K. R. U. Ryan, and D. E. Zuill. 2011. Broad dissemination of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes in sediments of two urban coastal wetlands. Environ. Sci. Technol. 45:447-454.

  • Lab Assistant for Microbiology of Infectious Diseases

    • Aug 2009 - May 2010

    In addition to writing and revising curriculum, tutoring and leading a weekly lab session I was responsible for preparing media, handling and storing of bacterial cultures, setting up and performing general microbiology experiments for students and maintaining a sterile environment.

  • Honor's Scholar Project in Microbiology

    • Aug 2009 - May 2010

    Although the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria has long been considered a problem in the clinical settings, it is not just contained within the walls of a hospital. What is the role of wetland environments on the proliferation and movement of these these important antibiotic resistance genes?This was an independent research project based on the ongoing research I was involved with in the Biology Department.Pieter A. Baker 2010. Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Pollution in San Diego’s Coastal Wetlands: A Survey of Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance Gene in Local Sediments. PLNU Honor’s Conference Thesis Defense, San Diego, CA.