Scientist at Cygnus Technologies

LC-MS; Proteomics; Method development/validation - - - I grew up in Toms River, NJ and attended my undergrad at Stockton University majoring in Biology. There, I became interested in a career in research and was awarded two competitive NSF REU Fellowships in the summers of my Soph/Junior years. I joined Dr. Michael Lynch's lab at ASU in 2017 as he transitioned from Indiana University and founded the Biodesign Institute's Center for Mechanisms of Evolution. There, I worked to understand the gene regulatory vocabulary of Paramecium tetraurelia using high-throughput RNA sequencing and reporter constructs before shifting gears to developing proteomics wet- and dry-lab methods. My interests in proteomics began through conversations with Dr. Timothy Karr in the Mass Spectrometry Core, and I eventually began utilyzing LC-MS better study and understand Paramecium's unique cell physiology. I became co-advised by Dr. Jeremy Wideman who was interested in applying spatial proteomics workflows to non-model eukaryotes, and I optimized this workflow for P. tetraurelia and developed a computational pipeline to analyze these complex data. During my Ph.D., I was heavily involved in outreach activities including but not limited to: managing our Evolutionary Cell Biology journal club, serving on the SOLS graduate executive board (E-Board), serving as the graduate student representative on the SOLS Ethics Board, serving as a Biodesign Student Ambassador (BSA), and participating in various events such as ASU Open Door and Homecoming-- and I even annually speak at PHX Comicon/ComicFest/Fan-Fusion about the intersection between Sci-Fi and science. After my Ph.D., I sought to fill in gaps of knoweldge/experience regarding the operation of LC-MS instruments and utilizing them for bioanalysis. I joined ASU’s Mass Spectrometry Core and worked on diverse projects, collaborated across academia and industry, and delivered results to customers on predefined timelines. Currently, I am a Scientist at Cygnus Technologies (part of Maravai) in Leland, NC where I utilize LC-MS to study drug impurities.