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Resume

Executive Summary

Well-versed candidate in bioinformatics and biotechnology with software, lab, and real-world experience capable of critical thinking and analytical problem-solving seeking program that will further scientific knowledge in order to contribute to future discovery.

Education

North Carolina State University | Bioinformatics | PhD Candidate

August 2018 - Present

Graduate Lab: Dr. Colleen Doherty and Dr. Dahlia Nielsen

GPA: 3.80

Florida Gulf Coast University | Biotechnology | Bachelor of Science

Minor in Chemistry

Graduated May 2018

GPA: 3.93

Work and Research Experience

Investigating Cis Regulatory Elements in Differential Expression| March 2021 - Present

  • Performing standard RNA-Sequencing analysis on multiple publicly available datasets from GEO.

  • Utilizing machine learning techniques to investigate how features in the cis-regulatory regions of genes contribute to their differential expression.

  • Investigating different machine learning algorithms for accuracy and performance.

Studying the Impact of Spaceflight on Sequence Variants | Jan 2020 - Present

  • Explore NASA’s GeneLab (an Omic’s database) for relevant A. thaliana transcriptome data from spaceflight experiments.

  • Creating a pipeline to analyze RNA-Sequencing data for sequence variants associated with spaceflight conditions.

    • Took into account the nature of plant expression data, a highly inbred species, and RNA-Seq data so that the pipeline would give appropriate variant count information.

    • The pipeline encompasses many bioinformatic tools including fastqc, STAR, GATK’s Mutect2 and VariantFiltration.

Rice Candidate Gene Project | Aug 2019 - Oct 2020

  • Utilized a gene-regulatory network from Oryza sativa ChIP-sequencing data to prioritize potential candidate genes which were identified in a GWAS study.

  • Created interactive network visuals using R so future readers could investigate the potential candidate genes.

  • Performed differential expression analysis using R’s edgeR on Oryza sativa count information.

  • Used a Linux environment to run QTG-Finder2 in order to rank Oryza sativa candidate genes based on their orthology to known causal genes.

Wheat Phenotypic Data Project | Summer 2019

  • Formulated wheat data into clear phenotypes for over 300 varieties of wheat.

  • Transformed phenotypic wheat data using R in order to read the data in a GWAS software (ex. TASSEL).

Coffee Aroma Project | Spring 2019

  • Analyzed tetraploid coffee data to find potential proteins associated with aroma.

  • Used whole genome sequencing data from Coffea arabica (tetraploid) to find out which chromosomes were descendants of which parent genome.

  • Utilized a Linux environment to run NCBI’s BLAST and Mummer.

Phytopthora Phylogeny Project | Spring 2019

  • Used gene sequencing data of seven genes from over forty species of Phytophthora to investigate the evolutionary relationships of the phyla.

  • Ran RAxML on Geneious to create the phylogenies.

Analytical Chemistry Intern at Algenol Biofuels| May 2017 - Dec 2017

  • Processed 300+ samples each week for different departments using spectrophotometry, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, and BCA Assay.

  • Developed new methods to process and analyze protein samples.

  • Performed annual maintenance on spectrophotometers and computer software.

Skills

Programming Languages: Proficient in R, Python, and Julia. Familiar with Java.

Bioinformatic Software and Tools: STAR, GATK, TASSEL, edgeR, HTSeq, fastqc, Mummer, Picard, JGIL, RAxML, Aliview, Clustal, Garli, Geneious, BLAST

Statistical analysis and algorithms: Principal component analysis, linear regression and modeling, least squares models, Gibb’s sampling, nature-inspired genetic algorithms, Smith-Waterman algorithm

Microsoft Suite: Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint

Molecular Techniques: Have worked with PCR equipment, Gel Electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, Western Blot, Bacterial Transformation, DNA MiniPrep, Protein Extraction, Bradford Assay, Size-Exclusion Column

Relevant Coursework: Molecular Genetics, Bioinformatics I & II, Fundamental Inference of Statistics I & II, Computational Methods for Molecular Biology, Categorical Data Analysis, Genomic Data Analysis, Experimental Design​

Conferences & Workshops

College of Sciences Research Symposium | Fall 2021 *

Genetics and Genomics Initiative 4th Annual Retreat | Fall 2021 *

Genetics and Genomics Initiative Semester Seminar Series | Fall 2021 *

82nd Meeting of Southern Section of the American Society of Plant Biologists | Spring 2021*

NCSU Genomic Sciences Symposium | Spring 2021*

American Society for Gravitational and Space Research Virtual Meeting | Fall 2020

NCSU Genomic Sciences Symposium | Spring 2020*

NCSU Genomic Sciences Symposium | Spring 2019

​

*Presented

Awards and Accomplishments

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Training Grant | Fall 2018 - Summer 2021

Florida Gulf Coast University Hall of Fame | Spring 2018

Florida Gulf Coast University President's List

Florida Gulf Coast University Dean's List

Florida Gulf Coast University Honors Student | Fall 2014 - Spring 2018

Florida Gulf Coast University President's Gold Recipient (4x) | Fall 2014 - Spring 2018

Florida Bright Futures Academic Scholar (4x) | Fall 2014 - Spring 2018

Algenol Biofuels Scholarship for STEM Education (3x) | Fall 2014 - Spring 2018

Senate Contributor of the Year | 2016 - 2017

Panhellenic Executive Council Member of the Year | 2016

Whitaker Center for STEM Education Grant (3x) | 2015 - 2016

Honors Development Grant Recipient | Fall 2015

Honors Research Symposium Grant | Spring 2015

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