United States
My research focuses on biodesign of metabolic pathways using development and implementation of advanced bioimaging technologies and genetic engineering in algal and fungal strain development for industrial bioenergy applications. My interests are in photosynthetic metabolism, nutrient acquisition/conversion, and mechanisms of drug/toxin resistance in prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. My previous research focus was on metals acquisition, toxin transport, and antibiotic resistance in bacterial model systems by direct biochemical characterization in living cells. I am currently investigating the linkages between intercellular nitrogen and carbon metabolism in photosynthetic biosystems as well as the underlying mechanisms of energy rich metabolite accumulation in microalgae for development of advanced bioproduct feedstocks. My approaches involve integrated systems biology to map metabolic responses with label-free imaging of metabolites, multi-omic analysis, and genetic engineering utilizing traditional, Gateway, and CRISPR/Cas9 bioengineering tools to facilitate metabolic engineering.
Current workscope involves providing scientific and technical expertise to projects across disciplines conducting in vivo investigations of cellular transport in bacteria, fungi, plants and algae. Specialities includes biophysical, analytical, and genetic analysis of functional-structral relationships and metabolic engineering of industry relevant biological pathways. Current research focuses on characterizing cellular mechanisms of nutrient acquisition and antibiotic resistance focused on membrane trasnport and cell-surface interfaces, with direct characterization of living biosystems with high resolution microscopy and biochemical analysis combined with high-throughput microfludics and nanowell cell isolation. I am currently investigating the linkages between intercellular nitrogen and carbon metabolic pathways of photosynthetic systems and the underlying mechanisms of TAG lipid accumulation in microalgae for development of advanced biofuel feedstocks. I'm also currently managing CARS and confocal fluorescence microscopy instrumentation, which provides unparralled in vivo imaging of biological and non-biological systems. I work closely with users from universities, companies, and national laboratories for DOE's initiative to develop technologies to analytically target and enhance live-cell imaging approaches enabling real-time visualization of biological systems. RESEARCH INTERESTS: Biological cell membrane transport of metabolites, metal complexes, drugs and toxins that relate to the environment, health and bioenergy. Specifically enabling non-destructive biochemical and bioimaging capabilities to study mechanisms in natural and synthetic cells that reveals targets for genetic engineering initiatives. Metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways to leverage biochemical technology tools for byproducts and advanced biofuel development. Exploring cellular genetics and corresponding cellular mechanisms for potential emerging synthetic biology applications.
Research Summary – Characterization of antibiotic membrane transport and drug efflux, specifically the efflux kinetics of antibiotics and solvents across the microbial cellular membrane. Analysis of drug binding at multiple sites in active site of the multi-drug efflux protein complex AcrAB–TolC located in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli. Multiple projects focused on designing cutting-edge synthetic biology methods using genetic engineering to introduce non-canonical amino acids for novel assay development to study multi-drug efflux kinetics in living systems.
Research and Teaching Summary – Biochemical analysis of outer membrane protein conformational motion in the iron transporter FepA during FeEnt binding and transport in living cells. Research centered on iron bioenergetics of membrane transport in microbes using fluorescence probes and radioisotopic assays. Core duties included mentoring graduate teaching assistants and chemistry students, maintaining common instrumentation and chemical reagents, developing procedures for the chemistry teaching laboratory, and writing examinations for 300+ students.
BIOCHEMICAL METHODS − Develop lectures on specific topics in Biochemistry and General Chemistry: Gas Law Theory and Deviations; SDS-PAGE, protein separation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), Western Blotting, GENERAL CHEMISTRY Nucleic Acids Structure and Function, and other laboratory techniques − Write and proof exam questions for General Chemistry and Biochemistry courses
–Bi-annual workshop organizer for teaching basic chemistry workshop focused on undergraduate teaching and laboratory training. Workshop focused on training non-native English speaking graduate student teaching assistants how to operate and demonstrate chemistry laboratory equipment, teaching methods, and grading techniques –Lead instructor for Biochemical Methods laboratory that setup schedules for other teaching assistants, produced standards for biochemical assays, taught teaching assistants how to make media, protein purification columns and culture bacteria –While teaching a laboratory I created basic chemistry examinations with multiple grading keys for greater than 900 student examinations. Scheduled and managed 15+ teaching assistants (each with two classrooms) for quarterly examinations and testing rooms, weekly tutoring & laboratory sessions, as well as mediated, troubleshooted, and documented student and TA concerns and questions.