RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Research Associate, Stanford University, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Stanford, CA, 2009 – present

Laboratory of Professor A.C. Matin

·       Investigating bacterial magnetite genes for an MRI reporter, in collaboration with the Gambhir Lab and members of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS).

·       Developing a high-throughput method for screening flow-cell biofilms with a microfluidic device, in collaboration with Fluxion Biosciences.

 

Post-doctoral Scholar, Stanford University, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 2006 - 2009

Primary Advisor: Professor A.C. Matin; Co-advisor: Professor Sanjiv Sam Gambhir.

·       Investigated MRI contrast enhancement and tumor targeting ability of magnetotactic bacteria, in collaboration with the Gambhir Lab and members of the Molecular Imaging Program at Stanford (MIPS).

·       Discovered a gene involved in biofilm-specific antibiotic resistance. Demonstrated the role of the gene in regulating a multi-drug efflux pump and reducing penetration of antibiotics through the biofilm polymeric matrix.

·       Examined the effect of low-shear simulated microgravity on bacterial biofilm resistance to stress, and validated the experimental fluid dynamics with a numerical model.

 

Doctoral Research, University of Colorado, 1999 - 2005

BioServe Space Technologies, Aerospace Engineering Sciences Dept. (Advisor: Assoc. Prof. David M. Klaus)

·       Investigated bacterial antibiotic production in space with a space flight experiment onboard the International Space Station. Helped design, build, and integrate an automated bioreactor developed uniquely for this experiment, in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb. See NASA Mission Description

·       Created a numerical model for studying the effects of gravity on extracellular mass transport.

·       Developed a novel system to simulate microgravity by bacterial production of gas vesicles to generate neutral buoyancy.

·       Tested and developed a prototype instrument for spaceflight experiments that uses digital holography to measure small changes in fluid density for cell biology experiments.

 

Undergraduate Research, University of New Hampshire, 1993 – 1995

Department of Microbiology (Advisor: Professor Frank G. Rodgers)

·       Studied host-pathogen interactions between opportunistic pathogens (Listeria monocytogenes and Legionella pneumophila) and murine macrophages.