• Independent research project

  • Created a model of genetic disease, Chronic Granulomatous, in order to determine if caused by a mutation in pre-mRNA splicing

  • PI: Jeremy Sanford

Research Experience

Masters of Science in Biology - Walla Walla University, 2025

Bachelors of Science in Biology - University of California, Santa Cruz, 2021

EDUCATION

Toxic RNA Undergraduate Lab - UC Santa Cruz

  • Independent research project studying diet variability of California Sea Lions using Stable Isotope Analysis.

  • Volunteer for Dan Costa's lab

  • Assist in collecting data, including tag resights, drone operation, and administering dye marks

  • PI: Patrick Robinson

Large Marine Vertebrate Field Lab - UC Santa Cruz

WORK HISTORY

  • carry out research in the area of biological characterization of botanicals

  • utilized high-throughput techniques for gene expression and high-content imaging to characterize botanical fractions and pure compounds

  • worked as part of a team with chemists, bioinformaticians and molecular biologists to address critical questions around botanicals

  • managed laboratory day to day function

Junior Research Specialist - John MacMillan Biochemistry Lab - UC Santa Cruz

  • Perform COVID-19 diagnostic testing pursuant to Standard Operating Procedures.

  • Identify and report any irregular results or properties of the key experimental reagents.

  • Identify and track issues with samples and isolate points of failure

  • Accessioning and tracking incoming clinical samples using the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)

  • Collaborate and contribute to laboratory procedures and CLIA documentation; gather and analyze research and clinical data; prepare and summarize information and / or recommendations, including potential laboratory safety representative functions

  • Monitor equipment and instrument functions and assist in their maintenance

  • Assist with logistics between the testing lab and the partner clinical providers

Lab Technician - UC Santa Cruz Molecular Diagnostics Lab

  • Perform testing on new biochemical assays, software, hardware, and consumable releases and provide feedback to respective groups

  • Perform common biochemistry assays and other laboratory testing

  • Data collection and analysis on Ontera’s solid-state nanopore devices using custom software

Research Associate at Ontera - Santa Cruz, CA

  • Lead kayak tours out of the Santa Cruz harbor

  • Educated participants on the kelp forest ecosystem

  • Repaired and maintained camping equipment

  • Supervised and trained volunteers

  • Managed digital and hard-copy filing systems

Lead Kayak Guide, Rental Assistant, and Receptionist - UC Santa Cruz Recreation

AWARDS

An Argument to Conduct More Research on the Common Octopus: A small section of a bigger research paper that identified how the common octopus will be affected by climate change along with the scientific and technological advancements that have come from researching octopuses

Don Rothman Endowed Award in First Year Writing

  • Octopus Facts Hotline: a local text hotline that sends people free octopus facts straight to their phone

  • Frequent Speaker at LA County Middle Schools about my career in science and a small lecture about cephalopods

  • Save the Ocean Save the World: a store with products created by me whose profits goes towards non-profits that are committed to restoring and protecting our oceans and educating the public

This website has raised:

MEDIA

  • Cephalopod Week with Science Friday in Thousand Oaks, CA - July 2023

  • Just the Zoo of Us: Podcast Episode - August 2023

  • ABC Weekends - Australian Talk Show Guest June 2023

  • The Wild Life: Podcast episode - Jan 2024

  • Seattle Aquarium Lighting Talks - February 2024

  • BBC Guest Expert about the viral Oklahoma Octopus Family - April 2024

  • Livestream Q&A with Skype a Scientist - May 2024

  • The Science Pawdcast: Podcast episode - August 2024

OUTREACH