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Doctor of Philosophy, Entomology

University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States

• Advisor - Brendan G. Hunt
• Committee - Kenneth Ross, Allen Moore, and Robert Schmitz
• Graduate Certificate in Bioinformatics

Bachelor of Science, Mathematics and Biology

University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States

• Advisor - Jonathan Arnold
• Concentration in Neuroscience

Postdoctoral Research

John Harvard Distinguished Research Fellows, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

• Evolution of queen polymorphisms in the genus Leptothorax using genomic and morphometrics approaches.
• Molecular underpinnings of novel caste development in Ooceraea biroi.

Graduate Research

Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

• Brendan G. Hunt - Evolutionary Insect Genetics Lab
  • Evolution and regulation of the social form-mediating supergene in S. invicta using RNA-seq approaches.
  • Caste differentiation in S. invicta and the impact of the social form-mediating supergene therein.
  • Effect of maternal care on DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in C. calcarata.
  • Molecular evolution of DNA methylation enzymes in Hymenoptera.
• Schmitz Lab
  • DNA methylation patterns in P. canadensis, D. quadriceps, and N. vespilloides.
  • Transcription factor binding domains in Zea mays.
• Tarleton Research Group
  • Developed web-based tools for CRISPR-Cas9 guide RNA synthesis.
  • Applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Undergraduate Research

Department of Genentics and College of Engineering, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

• Laboratory for Fungal Genomics and Computational Biology (Jonathan Arnold Lab)
  • Computational modeling of synchronous behavior arising in networks of cells.
  • Gene regulatory networks underlying circadian rhythms in Neuorspora crassa
• Leidong Mao Lab
  • Microfluidics applications for the study circadian rhythms in individual cells.
  • Single-cell measurement fluorescence measurement of gene expression.

Instructor - Integrated Science (LS50)

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

• Developed and Implemented in collaboartion with Buck Trible.
• Research-driven course focusing on providing hands-on experience to first-year undergraduates.

Instructor of Record - Principles of Biology II Lab (BIOL 1108L)

University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

• Organized and taught the lab portion of introductory biology for science majors focusing on research techniques, fieldwork, and general concepts in biology.

Instructor of Record - Principles of Biology II Lab (BIOL 1108L)

• Organized and taught the lab portion of introductory biology for science majors focusing on research techniques, fieldwork, and general concepts in biology.

Teaching Assistant - Principles of Biology II (BIOL 1108)

• Helped to develop in-class assignments, lead discussion groups, and grade exams.

Tutor at Mathnasium at Woodlawn Square, Marietta, GA, USA

• One-on-one mathematics tutor for students from age 5-18.

Postdoctoral

• Oral Presentation at Biology and Genomics of Social Insects Conference (2024)
• Oral Presentation at the Invertebrate Supergroup Meeting (2023)
• Invited Departmental Seminar at University of Rochester (October 2022)
• Chalk Talk at Boston Evolutionary Genomics Supergroup Annual Retreat (October 2022)
• Oral Presentation at 2022 SINNERS Conference (June 2022)
• Oral Presentation at 2021 ESA Annual Meeting (November 2021)

Graduate

• Poster Presentation at the Evolution of Complex Life Conference (May 2019)
• Oral Presentation at the 2018 ESA, ESC, and ESBC Joint Annual Meeting (November 2018)
• Oral Presentation at the Biology and Genomics of Social Insects Conference at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories (May 2018)
• Oral Presentation for the Enthusiasts of Diversity, Genetics, and Evolution at UGA (March 2018)
• Oral Presentation at the 2017 Entomological Society of America Meeting (November 2017)
• Poster Presentation at the 43rd annual Southeastern Population Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics meeting (October 2016)

Undergraduate

• Poster Presentation at the Southeast BME Regional Conference (October 2015)
• Presentation at the College of Engineering REU Research Symposium (July 2015)
• Poster Showcase of REU@UGA (July 2015)
• Presentation for REU Participants (July 2014)

• H.O. Lund Entomology Scholarship

• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award

• UGA Graduate School Student Travel Grant
• H.O. Lund Outstanding Achievement Award for Scholarship and Research

• Honorable Mention for the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program
• Innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Grant