Catie Blair

Consultant / May, 2020 — August, 2023

Conducted research to pinpoint areas of innovation, growth, and risk within clients' product development and investment strategies in the telecommunications technology sector. Collaborated with clients to foster business relationships with their strategic partners, contributing to a shared understanding of technical concepts and consumer demands in the environmental technology industry. Analyzed mobile device manufacturers' influence on consumer electronics markets and related ecosystems, providing crucial insights for intellectual property and antitrust cases. Provided key contributions to expert witness reports, rebuttal reports, and expert deposition preparation for clients such as Apple, Samsung, LG, the Department of Justice, and the Competition Bureau of Canada. Compiled and presented research and analysis in market overview reports for clients, initiating potential legal investigations within the telecommunications sector.

Biology Researcher / January, 2019 — May, 2021

F. Russell Cole Student Research Fellowship grant recipient. Collaborated with researchers from three academic institutions to manage a database of information on three species of reef building corals, containing several thousand datapoints spanning a 15-year collection period. Analyzed the impacts of thermal stress on the coral's composition of genetically varying symbionts (Zooxanthellae) and the species capacity to recover depending on their symbiont composition. Culminated in a capstone presentation "Shifts in Symbiodinium composition of Orbicella franksi corals in response to thermal stress in Panama".

Summer Intern / June, 2019 — August, 2019

Aided in developing methods to observe and improve CRISPR/Cas9 activity, specificity, and efficiency through site-directed mutagenesis. Conducted two research projects analyzing (1) the correlation between CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and instances of sgRNA mismatches at genomic target sites and (2) the impact of promoter sequences that triggered transcription of sgRNA during gene editing practices. Engineered over 50 reporter plasmids over the course of research procedures, and transfected and tested each plasmid in human tissue cultures. Gained hands-on laboratory experience in various microbiology techniques including PCR, plasmid-prep using Qiagen and Zymo kits, molecular cloning, western blot procedures, cell line assay development, transfection, and flow cytometry. Presented results describing the efficacy of research methods, experiment results, and implications for future use of CRISPR/Cas9 methods.

Summer Intern / June, 2016 — August, 2017

Worked alongside medical and biological researchers in zebrafish husbandry practices, maintaining environmental parameters, lifecycle care, and upkeep of genetic databases. Conducted research on the efficacy of group cross breeding environments to produce genetic diversity in the subsequent generation, and the resulting impacts of the practice on breeding behavior using CRISPR-modified zebrafish. Presented research findings proving that zebrafish of varying genetic strains breed at unequal rates, resulting in a lack of genetic diversity in a laboratory setting.