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My Journey in the life sciences began in Iowa City, Iowa through a series of stumbles and missteps indicative of so many adolescents here in the states. While trying to appear more intelligent than I really am, I began reading the Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins on a whim. Say what you will about the man, and say what you will about his ideas, but this book is at the root of my love of science. And I have to say falling in love with science is greatest and most fulfilling path I have explored in life. As it turns out it is also the most financially ruinous path, but that's neither here nor there.
I proceeded to graduate with a B.Sc. in Evolutionary Biology spending my undergrad working in Dr. Forbes evolutionary ecology lab. As an undergrad I learned the basics of molecular biology assisting in a study focused on the effects of urbanization of fruit flies and the parasitic wasps that hound them. I went on to earn my Master's in biology working under Dr. Christine Parent at the University of Idaho, writing my thesis on the population level dynamics of viral co-infection. This project utilized a host and pathogen system of Drosophila melanogaster and the creatively named Drosophila C virus and Drosophila X virus. My Master's was followed by time as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Brandon Cooper at the University of Montana studying Drosophila and the facultative endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia. I became enamored with the viral blocking properties of this symbiotic bacteria and the potential implications for human health. From here I looked towards health care and completed an intensive program with AERIE Back Country Medicine to earn my certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. Through this program I split time between the Mastatal region in Costa Rica and the Mission mountains in Montana. Through my time with this program I focused on human anatomy and basic EMS, serving in a pop-up clinic as an assistant to both local and foreign health care providers as well as being able to shadow and assist in both foreign emergency care centers and local ambulances. I returned to the bench as a member of the team at FYR Diagnostics in Missoula, MT. My work at FYR began with a focus on novel biomarkers (generally miRNAs) for disease states relevant to both healthcare and agriculture. However, since the introduction of SARS-CoV-2 around the globe it was all hands on deck working to bring high-throughput testing to the state of Montana. I acted as a part of a private COVID-19 task force working to implement both existing nucleic acid amplification tests in the community as well as develop novel diagnostics utilizing isothermal amplification technologies. Through this work I recognized my desire to move forward in studying infectious disease through the lens of the pathogens that surround us and the implications for public health. I am currently working as a Research Associate in the department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Montana. I have been fortunate to work with a group that emphasizes learning and teamwork as I prepare to return to school. My work here is focused on the development and assessment of vaccine adjuvant compounds tested in vivo. These studies span a number of both private and public contracts. I hope to continue to move forward utilizing my backgrounds in molecular biology and healthcare in an integrated way. I intend to pursue a career that bridges research science and medicine in a way that my work will lead to greater understanding across both the general public and scientific community and lead to improved patient outcomes and policies regarding human health. |