Background

I am a molecular biologist with a strong computational background. I have a passion for solving problems, either computationally or experiementally (or both). I have spent the last 5 years of my professional life tying these together, through medical device QC and repair, vaccine development, and double strand break repair research. I have also learned cGMP, CLIA, data management, data reporting, data analysis and keeping an electronic laboratory notebook (LIMS). I am eager to expand my computational experience and toolbox and learn more of industry and the clinical world.

Job experience

• October 2022 - present
  Research Specialist - Intermediate
  University of Michigan - Michigan Medicine
  

  Ann Arbor, MI, USA

  Research specialist in Tom Wilson's DNA repair lab. Techniques used include: NGS, Oxford Nanopore, Flow Cytometry, ddPCR, qPCR, cell culture, cell transformations, and freezer mill.

• 2021 - 2022
  Senior Research Associate
  Esperovax, Inc
  

  Worked towards scaling up production of yeast and general research responsibilities involving yeast. Led the scale up, bioprocessing and microscopy use in the lab, trained others to help me as part of my team. Used bioreactors, spray dryers, and used FDA regulations to scale up yeast vaccine product. Designed experiments, validated methods and wrote methods, SOPs and protocols for the laboratory. Techniques and technology used include, but not limited to: Fluorescence microscopy, sample prep, BSL2/3, data analysis, data visualization, DNA/RNA extraction, cell culture, bioreactor batch processing, western blot, ultracentrifugation, vaccine development, qRT-PCR, lyophilizing, spray drying, enforced EBDI and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) standards.

• 2020 - 2022
  QC Test Tech
  NeuMoDx
  

  I follow FDA regulations in QC testing of NeuMoDx XPCR modules and 96 and 288 IVD molecular systems in the manufacturing department. I used troubleshooting skills to troubleshoot Hamilton Star based systems for shipping and manufacturing.

Education

• University of Michigan
  MS - Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology
  

  2017 - 2019

  Activities and societies: Rackham Merit Fellow, Pathways Fellow, Graduate Student Researcher, Graduate Student InstructorActivities and societies: Rackham Merit Fellow, Pathways Fellow, Graduate Student Researcher, Graduate Student Instructor
  I received a research master's in molecular, cellular and developmental biology. My skills obtained from my masters include (but not limited to): machine learning, image processing, genomics, proteomics, microscopy, plant molecular biology, and computer science. I took particular interest in machine learning and network analysis. Some of my favorite projects involved using MATLAB and TensorFlow, and sometimes R to model Graph Laplacian models used for various sequencing data, as well as, image processing. The attached papers that I co-authored demonstrate specific MATLAB projects.
• Eastern Michigan University
  BS - Mathematics, Biology
  

  2012 - 2016

  Activities and societies: Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Undergraduate Researcher, Symposium Undergraduate Research FellowActivities and societies: Ronald E. McNair Scholar, Undergraduate Researcher, Symposium Undergraduate Research Fellow
  At Eastern Michigan University, I was awarded a BS with a double major in Biology and Mathematics, and received a minor in Chemistry. My expertise are in Biology is in Cell and Molecular Biology, but have taken courses for a broad biology background. My expertise in Mathematics are in computation and modeling using computer science, as well as problem solving using a variety of mathematics. Some of my favorite projects in math included using MATLAB to model a fourier transform in one dimension on a music piece and showing the notes and values accurately on the frequency spectrum. Another project that I enjoyed was using R to create a random walk model. And python to create a gibbs sampler and model time evolution. I have grown an affinity and deep appreciation for Calculus, Linear Algebra, Fourier Analysis, Probability and Statistics. Skills learned include: R programming, python programming, java programming, matlab, cancer biology, molecular genetics, public speaking