Kelsey Jesser. (208)

Transcription

1 Kelsey Jesser (208) EDUCATION PhD Student, Department of Marine Sciences University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Science Study area: Microbial ecology of human pathogens in coastal marine ecosystems Advisor: Dr. Rachel T Noble Committee members. Dr. Alecia Septer, Dr. Adrian Marchetti, Dr. Hans Paerl, Dr. Jill Stewart Master of Science, Biology (emphasis in marine and estuarine science) Western Washington University, August 2014 Thesis: Quantitative PCR analysis of functional genes in iron-rich microbial mats at an active hydrothermal vent system (Loihi Seamount, HI) Advisor: Dr. Craig L Moyer Committee members: Dr. Marion Brodhagen, Dr. Dietmar Schwarz Bachelor of Science, Biology summa cum laude The College of Idaho, December 2010 COURSEWORK Bioinformatics Microbiology Immunology Organic chemistry Evolutionary biology Analytical and quantitative chemistry Cell biology Organismal biology Stream ecology Applied molecular ecology Population genetics Functional genomics Ecological genomics Statistics Coastal and estuarine science Biological oceanography

2 Chemical oceanography Physical oceanography Marine geology RESEARCH AND LABORATORY EXPERIENCE Undergraduate research Undergraduate Research Assistant, the College of Idaho Biology Department Aseptic technique and cell culture of established human osteoblast osteosarcoma Saos-2 cell line Experimental treatment of Saos-2 cells with vitamin D, estrogen, and antimicrobial agent triclosan MTT cell proliferation and viability assays NIH IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) Idaho Summer Research Fellow 2010 RNA extraction and quantification cdna synthesis Reverse-transcriptase qpcr analysis of the effects of vitamin D and triclosan on the hormonal control of gene expression is Saos-2 cells Graduate research Master s research, Western Washington University September 2011-August 2014 DNA extraction and quantification Cloning and Sanger-sequencing of PCR amplicons Sequence mining of metagenomic assemblies qpcr assay design and optimization qpcr analysis of functional gene abundance at Zetaproteobacteria-dominated deep sea microbial mats Mentoring and training of undergraduate students PhD research, UNC Chapel Hill Institute of Marine Science September 2014-present qpcr assay design and quantification for functional genes associated with pathogenesis in clinical and environmental strains of Vibrio spp. Assembly and analysis of next-gen metagenomic sequence data New methods in Vibrio detection from environmental samples

3 Other research/laboratory experience and skiills Use of bioinformatics online resources such as RAST, MG-RAST, KEGG, GenBank, JGI, and NCBI s BLAST Bioinformatics analyses using BioPython, Blast+, and Megan5 Mouse, rat, and salmonid dissection Aseptic technique Primary cell culture establishment Nucleic acid extraction and quantification Immunofluorescent staining Fluorescent, light, and phase contrast microscopy Anaerobic culturing of Thermococcus spp. Solution making Enzymatic assays Use of spectrophotometers, balances, incubators, and spectrophotometers T-RFLP DNA fingerprinting Microbiological staining and media prep Use of selective and differential microbiological media TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS Microbiology lab, Western Washington University Biology Department September 2011-March 2013 Primary instructor for upper division microbiology laboratory course under faculty supervision Presented introductory materials at the beginning of every lab Demonstrated basic microbiology methods and safety protocols Taught undergraduate students light microscopy, spectrophotometry, cloning, use of selective and differential media, microbiological staining and media prep, and a variety of other laboratory skills Wrote and proctored class exams and lab practicals Graded lab notebooks, worksheets, and exams Molecular biology lab, Western Washington University September 2013-March 2014 Collaborated with faculty instructors to teach upper division biology and biochemistry students basic techniques in molecular biology Topics covered included solution making, restriction digests, plasmid extractions, PCR optimization, gel electrophoresis, cloning, ligation, and transformation reactions Led study sessions and worked one-on-one with students outside of class Graded lab notebooks, worksheets, quizzes, and class exams

4 Biology 101, Western Washington University January 2014-March 2014 Primary instructor for introductory biology course under faculty supervision Presented introductory materials at the beginning of labs Led class discussions and activities on a wide array of introductory topics in biology including microscopy, diffusion, eutrophication, photosynthesis, succession, and taxonomy Wrote and graded lab worksheets and quizzes Oceanography, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Semptember 2014-May 2015 Acted as classroom support for primary instructor in upper division oceanography course Presented lectures as needed Graded all exams and assignments Acted as liason between faculty and students EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Violin lessons and community orchestra Tutoring local high school students in remedial algebra and geometry Bellingham Food Bank Volunteer AWARDS AND HONORS Graduate Research Award for biology, Western Washington University academic year Maximum graduate research funding through Western Washington University s RSP program Who s Who Among American College and University Students The College of Idaho Dean s List ABSTRACTS AND PUBLICATIONS Conference abstracts K. Jesser, H. Fullerton, J. Kimber, T. Hilton, K. Hager, and C.L. Moyer. qpcr analysis of carbon, nitrogen, and arsenic cycling in Zetaproteobacteria-dominated microbial mats. American Geophysical Union 2013 Meeting, San Francisco, CA, December 2013.

5 K. Jesser, H. Fullerton, and C.L. Moyer. qpcr analysis of functional genes in Zetaproteobacteriadominated microbial mats. WWU STEMGRO Graduate Research Conference, Bellingham, WA, June 2013 and American Society of Microbiology Northwest Conference, Seattle, WA, November H. Fullerton, K. Jesser, and C. L. Moyer. Metagenomics and high-resolution sampling of an iron-dominated microbial mat at Loihi Seamount. American Society of Microbiology Annual Conference, Denver, CO, May, K. Jesser and M. Gunderson. Investigating the effects of the antimicrobial agent triclosan on the hormonal control of gene expression in Saos-2 osteoblast osteosarcoma cells. INBRE Idaho Undergraduate Research Conference, Moscow, ID, August, Publication K. Jesser, H. Fullerton, K. Hager, and C.L. Moyer. Quantitative PCR Analysis of functional genes in iron-rich microbial mats at an active hydrothermal vent system (Loihi Seamount, Hawaii). May Applied and Environmental Microbiology 81: