EDUCATION
MSc Paleobiology, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK (Sept 2016)
B.S. Biology, American University, Washington, DC (Dec 2014)
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
August 2021- Current - Freelance Scientific Illustrator
Work includes providing informational graphics for clients on a variety of scientific materials. Work is primarily digital raster images using Adobe Photoshop or Procreate. Products made include graphics for research papers, patents, apparel, websites, presentations and more.
January 2021 - July 2021 - Covid-19 Research Assistant at Georgetown University
Main duties include training new technicians and supervisors, extraction of Covid-19 samples using Kingfisher extraction methods, rt-PCR using Quant7 Studio, creating and maintaining inventory, scheduling training and work schedules while current supervisor trains, helping create a new lab space, validate machinery and reagents, and perform maintenance and calibration of equipment.
December 2018 - September 2020 - Quality Control Technician at Integrated Genetics
Main duties include the testing of reagents for quality assurance before release to the clinical laboratory for use in patient testing. Many reagents include the proper assembly and testing through various methods including sanger sequencing and gel electrophoresis. Primer ordering, building, and maintenance are also a large part of the team’s agenda. Personal duties include maintaining an inventory of all reagents monitored by the quality control team, assembling simple reagents including HCl and NaOH, shipping reagents to other sites, and ordering and maintaining primer inventory for specific assays. I was also the Safety member of our team and performed monthly safety audits of the laboratory and updated the team on any safety SOP changes. Other duties include SOP review and maintenance, maintaining organization of lab supplies, troubleshooting assays, primer testing and equipment use, training others, testing extraction blanks and placing reagents in quarantine.
March 2017- August 2018 - Evidence Technologist at BODE Cellmark Forensics
Duties include evidence handling and sampling. Forensic sampling techniques include scraping, wet/dry swabbing, tape lifts, and post-it lifts for possible DNA. Sampled DNA is prepared for extraction type based on item. DNA samples include touch cells (epithelial/saliva), blood, hair, and semen. Sampling practices take place in a sterilized environment with independent work on a property crime sampling team. Other laboratory tasks include supervising and educating new recruits, UVing supplies, supply stocking, extract return, cryobox storage management, administrative work, and evidence handling.
Sept 2014 - Sept 2015 - Paid Intern for Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Morphology Project: Morphometric analysis of cowrie shells for the prediction and placement of extinct and extant cowrie position in the Cypraeidae phylogeny. The project utilized morphological measurements with a multivariable analysis to attempt to reflect unique positions on the morphological phylogeny with an updated genomic phylogeny to compare.
Character Matrix Project: Providing a character matrix of the existing cowrie fossil specimens and extant type species by noting all morphological characteristics. Type specimens photographed at several angles and related publication information stored in an online catalogue format using Adobe Photoshop.
Beauty project: A survey of the public’s perception of beauty carried out by randomly handing a subject 5 of 75 shells that reflect the diversity of the cowrie family. Study aimed at educating the public on marine mollusks as well as receiving an understanding of any morphological patterns that may arise from the data.
ARMS project and BioCube involvement: Tissue sampling, PCR, gel electrophoresis analysis and Sanger sequencing of specimens from the BioCube project accomplished from two locations. Decantations performed of 20-40 ARMS project sediment samples/basic extractions and Next-Generation sequencing of said samples. The BioCube project became one of the NMNH’s recent exhibits.
OTHER PROJECTS & ACTIVITIES (Non-Artistic)
2016, Poster presentation on Masters thesis at Protistology UK conference
Fall, 2014- Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Biology 100 laboratory
2015, Neurotechnology and Astrobiology Panels at Shatterdome Seattle Science-Fiction Convention
Congressional Awards (Bronze and Silver)
Pending Publications:
Edmund R. R. Moodya1, Ashley K. Moorea1, Peter G. Foster, Davide Pisani1,2 and Tom A. Williams1* The phylogenetic position and optimal growth temperature of the last universal common ancestor.