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Scientific Experience

Summer Internship

Ocean Spray Cranberries Microbiology Internship

Completed a project about quantifying the growth of Byssochlamys nivea and the development of the mycotoxin patulin in final-product cranberry juices. This project's goal was to assess the risk of patulin concentration exceeding FDA limits under extreme conditions, as well as developing a standard curve correlating patulin concentration to biomass of mold for future use.

  • Bacteria and mold culture

  • Petrifilm and petri-dish culturing

  • DNA extraction of mold

  • qPCR

  • HPLC

  • Data analysis and figure development

  • Communication of results to the Food Safety and Quality Assurance group at Ocean Spray

Image by Rasa Kasparaviciene
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Research Experience

USDA Food Safety and Microbiology
 

Completed proprietary research on natural alternatives for preventing spoilage bacteria in commercial pickle jars.

  • Bacterial Cell Culture

  • Titration and Standardization

  • Biological Safety Level 2 (BSL2) Training

Graduate Coursework

Biology of Plant Pathogens

Core Technologies in Molecular and Cellular Biology

  • PCR

  • Force Cloning Methods

  • Gibson Assembly

  • Primer Design

  • Gel Electrophoresis

  • SDS-PAGE

  • Western Blot

  • Affinity Chromatography

  • Mammalian and Bacterial Cell Transfection

RNA Interference and Model Organisms

  • RNA Isolation and Purification

Introduction to Plant Biotechnology

Protein Purification

  • FPLC (HIC, AEC, SEC)

  • Linear and Stepwise Gradient Program Design

  • Bradford Assay

  • Specific Activity Assay

  • Fraction Collection and Assay

Image by Louis Reed
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Undergraduate Research Experience

USDA/NCSU Doubled-Haploid Wheat Breeding Program

Helped part-time to establish the structure of this production lab and run it. This lab experience led to a finished basic doubled-haploid protocol that would be used and improved upon going forward into my post-graduation full-time position.

  • Plant tissue culture

  • Aseptic technique

  • Media & basic solution preparation

  • Small grains harvest and analysis

  • Wheat and corn culturing

  • Stripe Rust inoculation

  • Wheat and oat cross pollination

  • Wheat breeding program selections

Brown Leaves
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Dry Flowers

Undergraduate Coursework

Chemistry: A Molecular Science -> Organic Chemistry 1

Intro Biology: Cellular and Molecular Biology

Plant Biology -> Plant Physiology -> Plant Breeding

Soil Science

Principles of Genetics -> Molecular Genetics

Insects and People -> General Entomology

Intro Environmental Science -> Climate Change and Sustainability -> Energy and Environment

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