Education
San Diego State Univ./Univ. of California, San Diego
Ph.D. Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program Aug. 2016- May 2022
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow (2017-2022)
Advisor: Dr. Nicolas Shikuma
Thesis: The genetic investigation of bacterial settlement cues and how they influence animal metamorphosis
Florida Atlantic University Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology with Marine Science concentration Aug. 2011 to May 2015
GPA: 3.7/4.0 cum laude
Thesis: Antibiotic Resistance among Bacteria near Sewage Outfalls of Bermuda
Ph.D. Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program Aug. 2016- May 2022
National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellow (2017-2022)
Advisor: Dr. Nicolas Shikuma
Thesis: The genetic investigation of bacterial settlement cues and how they influence animal metamorphosis
Florida Atlantic University Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
Bachelor’s of Arts in Biology with Marine Science concentration Aug. 2011 to May 2015
GPA: 3.7/4.0 cum laude
Thesis: Antibiotic Resistance among Bacteria near Sewage Outfalls of Bermuda
Awards
1st place- CSU Student Research Symposium (2022)
President's Award SDSU Student Research Symposium (2022)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2017-2022)
NSF Graduate Research Internship Award (2020-2021)
ARCs Merit Scholar (2020-2022)
International Coral Reef Society Student Travel Award (2020)
2nd Place SDSU CMB Three Minute Thesis Event (2019)
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences BIOS Grants-in-Aid (2017)
SDSU Graduate Student Travel Award (2017)
SDSU Viral Information Institute Scholarship (2016)
SDSU Elliot Family Fund Scholarship (2016)
BIOS NSF OCE-REU Travel Award (2015)
President's Award SDSU Student Research Symposium (2022)
NSF Graduate Research Fellow (2017-2022)
NSF Graduate Research Internship Award (2020-2021)
ARCs Merit Scholar (2020-2022)
International Coral Reef Society Student Travel Award (2020)
2nd Place SDSU CMB Three Minute Thesis Event (2019)
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences BIOS Grants-in-Aid (2017)
SDSU Graduate Student Travel Award (2017)
SDSU Viral Information Institute Scholarship (2016)
SDSU Elliot Family Fund Scholarship (2016)
BIOS NSF OCE-REU Travel Award (2015)
Teaching
Teaching Associate | San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
Marine Microbial Genomics Laboratory (Biol567L) Jan. 2021-Dec. 2021
San Diego, CA
Marine Microbial Genomics Laboratory (Biol567L) Jan. 2021-Dec. 2021
- Published two peer-reviewed Microbial Resource Announcements (Alker et al. 2021, 2022) with Spring & Fall 2021 cohort
- Isolated, cultured, sequenced and analyzed 20 microbial genomes using PATRIC
- Taught practical research methods and techniques targeted to develop undergraduate critical thinking skills
- Developed virtual laboratory videos and hybrid curriculum for marine bacteria cultivation and identification techniques of environmental isolates (See YouTube video below)
Teaching Associate | San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
Biochemistry 2 Laboratory (Biol366L) Aug. 2016-May. 2017
San Diego, CA
Biochemistry 2 Laboratory (Biol366L) Aug. 2016-May. 2017
- Lectured and demonstrated a range of molecular biology and biochemistry skills including enzyme kinetics, protein purification, solution calculations, PCR, bioinformatics and cloning
