Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of Alaska Fairbanks

National Student Service Contractor / November, 2022 — Present

I work with Dr. Leah Wehmas at the Environmental Protection Agency in Research Triangle Park, NC on a variety of molecular research projects. I used Partek and BMDExpress to analyze RNA-seq datasets and identify transcriptomic points of departure. This data helps to inform risk assessment on a variety of chemicals we were testing, including PFAS. Additionally, I am assisting in a kainic acid and triethyltin bromide dosing experiment with rats to determine if cerebral spinal fluid could be used as a biomarker for brain damage through analysis of specific proteins. I am responsible for daily laboratory maintenance in addition to creating and preparing all chemicals, reagents, and supplies used for research purposes.

Graduate Research Assistant / August, 2019 — August, 2022

I received my M.S. in fisheries as a graduate research assistant. I was the lead researcher on a 3-month long fish sampling project in Prudhoe Bay, AK during 2020 and 2021. This project used fyke nets to quantify and qualify the fish species within the nearshore Prudhoe Bay environment in order to determine how species composition and abundance were shifting in relation to climate change. For my thesis work, I was interested in determining how acclimation temperature affected organismal and molecular thermotolerance parameters in two fish species. I collected live fish samples and maintained them in a recirculating aquaculture system. I determined the CTmax temperatures for each sample before quantifying the HSP70 protein concentration in three tissue types using Western Blotting protocol. I then analyzed a full transcriptome dataset using Salmon to quantify the HSP70 mRNA transcript concentrations in two tissue types. All results were published in the journal Conservation Physiology.

Research Assistant / May, 2019 — August, 2019

I assisted in a variety of scientific projects occurring in Dr. Trent Sutton's lab. I participated in an Arctic cod eDNA project where we collected water samples from Prudhoe Bay, AK for eDNA analysis using custom primers I helped develop to detect the presence or absence of Arctic cod. I also assisted in a lamprey field sampling project where we spent 5 days using electrofishing to collect live adult and ammocoete samples in addition to collecting water samples for eDNA analysis. I filtered, collected, and extracted DNA from these water samples for future research. Finally, I assisted a graduate student in a capelin fecundity project.

Chemistry Lab Assistant / August, 2015 — May, 2019

I assisted in setting up and maintaining all undergraduate organic and inorganic chemistry labs. I had to prepare all necessary reagents and solutions using chemistry principles, including serial dilutions and stoichiometry. When preparing these reagents, I had to handle a variety of chemicals using proper lab safety protocol. Finally, I set up and maintained all lab equipment including, but not limited to, pH meters, titration equipment, and balances.

Shark Research and Conservation Lab Intern / August, 2018 — May, 2019

I interned in the Shark Research and Conservation Lab where I participated in research cruises that used modified longlines to sample live sharks around the Miami area. When working up a shark, I collected morphological measurements, caudal vein blood samples, muscle biopsy samples, and I helped tag the shark using a floy tag. We worked with citizen scientists who assisted us during the cruise, and I helped to explain the scientific procedure in addition to how the science would help with shark conservation. Finally, I wrote several blogs describing current aquatic conservation research that was occurring and why it was important.

REU Intern / June, 2017 — August, 2017

My research during looked to see what environmental parameters caused certain strains of Heterosigma akashiwo to bloom in hopes of determining what conditions might cause harmful algal blooms. I ran toxicity and photophysiology experiments on six strains of H. akashiwo. Additionally, I collected water samples from algal blooms containing H. akashiwo, which I cultured in a variety of salinities. With these samples, I extracted H. akashiwo DNA and ran PCR reactions in order to quantify fragment sizes as a proxy for genetic differences driven by the unique salinity conditions. Finally, I used prior-collected single strand isolates and ran PCR reactions to produce fragments to be sent in for sequencing. Before experiments began, I performed cell counts under a microscope using a hemocytometer. All experiments required extensive pipetting and practicing aseptic techniques in a fume hood to avoid cross-contamination.

Ernest F. Hollings Intern / May, 2017 — August, 2018

My research here analyzed the stomach contents of silky shark in order to determine their diet preferences. I identified stomach contents down to at least the genera before analyzing the data in R to quantify novel diet information. I drafted a research paper before presenting a poster at the 2018 Ernest F. Hollings NOAA research conference and an oral presentation at the 2019 Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO) Aquatic Science meeting. During this internship, I also assisted in field research projects collecting sharks and other live fish around Panama City Beach, FL using gill nets in addition to a smalltooth sawfish tagging project in the Everglades. Finally, I assisted in sectioning and cleaning vertebrate samples for future aging analysis.