Field Application Scientist

• Sep 2021 - Present

NGS Study Manager

• May 2019 - Sep 2021

• Project management of multiple Next Generation Sequencing projects• Serve as point of contact to manage and optimize communication between internal operations and external stakeholders• Technical consultation to support design, analysis and troubleshooting of NGS projects• Train new personnel in project management workflows and analyze current workflows to improve efficiency and compliance • Project management of multiple Next Generation Sequencing projects• Serve as point of contact to manage and optimize communication between internal operations and external stakeholders• Technical consultation to support design, analysis and troubleshooting of NGS projects• Train new personnel in project management workflows and analyze current workflows to improve efficiency and compliance

Research Microbiologist

• Sep 2016 - May 2019

• Investigating pathogen-host interactions of the two spirochetes, Treponema pallidum and Borrelia burgdorferi• Developing diagnostics to test for infection by two tick-borne pathogens, Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia microti✔ Collaborative research involving team members in our lab as well as labs in three other institutions✔ NIH Research Supplement Award to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research✔ Success milestones: two published studies, successful management of multiple projects, productive collaborationMy recent work directly addresses the need for a high-throughput technique to diagnose infection by the tick-borne parasite, Babesia microti, in blood and blood products. Transfusion with B. microti infected blood results in transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB), which carries a high risk of fatality. B. microti is the most frequently transmitted pathogen by blood transfusion in the U.S; as a result, the FDA has recommended that blood supplies be tested for Babesia infection to reduce the TTB-risk. Our work details the use of enzymatic assays as a viable option for large-scale testing of blood before it is certified safe for transfusion.

Molecular Biology Instructor

• Jun 2015 - Aug 2016

Designed a summer course to introduce high school students to essential Molecular and Developmental Biology laboratory techniques. Students were taught a variety of techniques including DNA extraction, PCR and sequence analysis; restriction enzyme cloning and gene expression by bacterial transformation; Drosophila melanogaster mutant phenotypes and immunohistochemistry.• Prepared lecture materials, experimental protocols, and quizzes• Purchased reagents and acquired materials needed to conduct planned experiments• Delivered lectures to explain the scientific foundation and biomedical relevance of laboratory techniques being performed• Supervised students as they performed experiments• Organized field-trips to other research institutions• Graded lab notebooks, quizzes and homework assignments• Prepared and submitted final grades• Taught three sessions of this course each summer✔ I am especially proud to have successfully designed, developed, and implemented this lab-based course. ✔ The course was very successful, and I was asked to teach it for two consecutive summers. This opportunity challenged me to incorporate many of my skills: ➊ Planning, executing, and delivering good results ➋ Working successfully in a team ➌ Simplifying complex ideas to communicate them effectively through written and oral means ➍ Accurately assessing the success of my methods, and adapting to improve outcomes ➎ Lead by motivating students to do their best, and by providing additional support and encouragement when needed

Stem Cell Biologist/ Developmental Biologist

• Jun 2010 - May 2016

• Studied the Developmental Biology of germline stem cells. When stem cell development is disrupted, they switch from differentiation to an over-proliferative, cancerous state, which causes infertility• Identified germline targets of the RNA-binding protein Sxl by doing RNA-seq• Interacted with different scientists to learn from their expertise in the production and analysis of next-generation RNA sequencing data, and establish this technology in our lab.• Characterized a new Sxl target—a novel tudor domain protein—by analyzing mutants, which I generated using CRISPR technology, and by doing overexpression and genetic interaction studies.

Service Support Specialist

• Oct 2008 - Jul 2009

• A dual-role position during which I provided technical support for the team and admin duties for the head of the department • Worked closely with other assistants to schedule inter-departmental meetings • Successfully balanced the needs of the team leader with the needs of other team members • A dual-role position during which I provided technical support for the team and admin duties for the head of the department • Worked closely with other assistants to schedule inter-departmental meetings • Successfully balanced the needs of the team leader with the needs of other team members