Curriculum Vitae
PhD in Biochemistry
2014 - 2020
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Mechanistic studies of vesicle production and membrane dynamics during environmental transitions in Gram-negative bacterium E. coli.
Duke University School of Medicine
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Certificate in College Teaching
2015 - 2020
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Duke University Graduate School
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Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Biotechnology
​2008 - 2014
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Magna Cum Laude
University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
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Education
Research & Internship
Intern, CDI Laboratories​
Spring 2014​
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Primary Validation of Monoclonal Antibodies with the use of Human Proteome Microarrays
Guanajibo Research and Innovation Park, Mayagüez, PR
Undergraduate Research Assistant
​Summer 2013​
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Study of TRBP-miRNA interactions
The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Chemistry
Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
Senior Undergraduate Research Assistant
Fall 2013​
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Spectroscopic studies of anti-VEGF DNA aptamer VEa4
Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
Teaching & Mentoring
Lecturer
Summer 2023
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Designed and offered a virtual course on Food Microbiology
Lasell Village​
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Assistant Professor of Biology
Fall 2020​ - Spring 2023
​Designed and taught both in-person and hybrid courses in Genetics, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology for students in science majors and an online Food Microbiology course for non-science majors.
School of Health Sciences, Lasell University
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Adjunct Professor of Biology
Fall 2018 & Fall 2019
​Designed and taught a general biology course for non-majors.
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University
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Graduate Student Co-director
​May 19 - July 27, 2019
Facilitated, coordinated and planned social activities, lunch & learn lessons, and teaching modules for 15 undergraduate students in the program.
Duke AMGEN Scholars Program, Duke University School of Medicine
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Preparing Future Faculty Fellow
​August 2017 - May 2018
Mentored by Dr. S. Catherine Silver Key
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University & Duke University Graduate School
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Guest lecturer for Dr. Catherine Silver Key’s Genetics course
​April 3 & 5, 2018
Topics: Pedigree chart analysis and Twin and adoption studies
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University
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Lab Module Preparation
​April 3, 2018
Developed and offered a theoretical lab session: Single guide RNA (sgRNA) design for knockdown of bacterial protein using CRISPR/Cas9 system
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University
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Workshop Co-designer and Co-leader for Catalyst Program
​February 10, 2019
Co-designed and co-led a Microbiology 2-hour hands-on workshop. In collaboration with Hannah McMillan.
Catalyst Program: Creating opportunities in STEM for students with disabilities
The Science House, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
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Lesson Plan Co-developer
​September 21, 2017
Co-developed and presented a lesson plan for K12 educators titled: How would you battle germs? In collaboration with Hannah McMillan
The SciREN: The Scientific Research and Education Network
SciREN Triangle and Educator Open House, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC
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Teaching Module Preparation
​Fall 2016
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Developed help session on Ribozyme Biochemistry for Gateway to Biology students
Department of Biology and BioCoRE, Duke University
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Teaching Assistant for Fundamentals of Biochemistry II
​Spring 2016
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Assisted primary faculty members with assignment and exam grading. Led weekly recitation sessions reviewing class material in collaboration with Katherine Bonnington, PhD.
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Mentorship/Student Supervision
​Summer & Fall '15; Summer & Fall '17, Summer & Fall '19
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Duke doctoral students Blanca Rodríguez, Claudia Lee, and Tereza Kaza; Duke Undergraduate Senior Thomas Brown, SROP student Eliud R. Rivas-Hernández, Duke Undergraduate Junior Yifei Wang.
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Spanish Writing Tutor
​2010 - 2013
Tutored undergraduate and graduate students in composition of essays, lab reports, and proposals. Offered Scientific Writing and other writing workshops to undergraduate students.
Bilingual Writing Center, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
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Languages
Spanish
English
Honors & Awards
ASBMB 2019 Graduate/Postdoctoral Travel Award
April 6-9, 2019
Award to cover travel expenses to ASBMB 2019 Annual Meeting to present research.
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) 2019 Annual Meeting, Orlando FL
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Mitchell Meritorious Research Travel Award
​November 2018
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Supports students to attend national and international scientific meetings.
Duke University Center for Host-Microbial Interactions (CHoMI), Duke University
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Poster Award
​October 27, 2018
For outstanding participation at the October 2018 Biochemistry Retreat
On behalf of Amy & Gary Kapral, in association with PhD Posters, and the Henry & Dorothy Lingle Kamin Endowment.
Department of Biochemistry Annual Retreat, Duke University, Wrightsville NC
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Outstanding Abstract Award
​June 2018
Sponsored by ASM and determined by ASM Microbe Program Committee
American Society of Microbiology, ASM microbe 2018
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Graduate Student Service Award
October 2017​
On behalf of the Henry & Dorothy Lingle Kamin Endowment
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Chancellor’s Scholarship
​August 2014
Awarded to incoming graduate students studying biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine
Duke University Graduate School
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Award for Outstanding Poster Presentation
​November 16, 2013
Category: Engineering, Physics and Mathematics
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa FL
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Conference Travel Awardee
​November 2013
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Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa FL
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Society Memberships
American Society of the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2018 - 2020
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
2018 - 2020
American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
2015 - 2018
Duke Biosciences Collaborative for Research Engagement (BioCoRE)
2014 - 2020
Extracurricular, Volunteering & Service
Visiting Scientist with Wonder Connection
May 2, 2019
Led two one-hour lessons on microbes which incorporated hands on, active learning activities. Worked with elementary and high school students. In collaboration with Hannah McMillan and Catherine Ehrhart.
Pediatric Psychiatry Unit, UNC Children’s Hospital
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Board Member and website manager
​2018 - 2019 Academic Year
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Helped promote student interests at Duke University both within and outside of the department as well as facilitated social events.
Biochemistry Graduate Student Council
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Outreach Coordinator and website manager
​2017 - 2018 Academic Year
Coordinated volunteering and service activities for students in the department.
Updated council blog with latest news and event announcements.
Biochemistry Graduate Student Council
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Nozaki and Student-Sponsored Lecture co-chair
​Fall & Spring 2017
Recruited seminar speakers and coordinated their visits and activities. In collaboration with Benjamin Fenton.
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Poster Judge for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
November 4, 2017
Judged and scored a total of three undergraduate and post-bachelor student posters according to given rubric
Phoenix, AZ
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Volunteer for Duke University recruitment efforts with the Duke Graduate School and School of Medicine
​November 3 & 4, 2017 & November 9-12, 2016
Networked with prospecting students and helping at exhibit hall booth
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa FL; Phoenix, AZ
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Volunteer for Duke University recruitment efforts with the Department of Biochemistry
​Springs of 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2018
Networked with prospecting students and helping with other recruitment activities
Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of Medicine
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Graduate Student Selection Committee for the 2018 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring
​December 13, 2017
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Read nominations and participated in the selection process
Duke University Graduate School
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Website/Blog manager
​2010 - 2013
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Managed center’s blog and online education platform in Edu 2.0
Bilingual Writing Center, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
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Presentations
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
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Oxidative stress-induced protein packaging in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli outer membrane vesicles and its functional impact on host-pathogen interactions
April 7, 2019
Symposium Session talk
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) 2019 Annual Meeting, Orlando FL
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Packaging under stress: Differential protein sorting in ETEC vesicles after shift to oxidative conditions​
October 10, 2018
Duke Center for Host-Microbe Interactions (CHoMI) Supergroup Seminar
Duke University
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Differential packaging of outer membrane proteins in OMVs from Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) under oxidative stress conditions
​June 11 & June 9, 2019
Symposium talk & Rapid-Fire Poster talk
American Society of Microbiology, ASM microbe 2018, Atlanta, GA
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Fighting stress with vesicles: OMV secretion as a stress-coping mechanism in Enterotoxigenic E. coli
​February 21, 2018
Seminar
Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina Central University
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Battling stress: Vesiculation as a membrane remodeling mechanism in Enterotoxigenic E. coli
​November 17, 2017
Talk
Department of Biochemistry Research Forum, Duke University School of Medicine
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Exploring TRBP’s affinity to microRNAs
​July 22, 2013
Talk
SROP & McNair Research Symposium, Pennsylvania State University
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POSTER PRESENTATIONS
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Oxidative stress-induced protein packaging in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli outer membrane vesicles and its functional impact on host-pathogen interactions
​April 6-9, 2019
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) 2019 Annual Meeting, Orlando FL
Oxidative stress-induced sorting of proteins in Enterotoxigenic E. coli OMVs and its potential impact on host-pathogen interactions
​October 26-27, 2018
Department of Biochemistry Annual Retreat, Duke University, Wrightsville NC
Differential packaging of outer membrane proteins in OMVs from Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) under oxidative stress conditions
​October ​20-21, 2017
May 16, 2018
June 8, 2018
Department of Biochemistry Annual Retreat, Duke University, Wrightsville NC
Mid-Atlantic Prep and IMSD Symposium, Duke University
American Society of Microbiology, ASM microbe 2018, Atlanta, GA
Phenotypic characterization of Escherichia coli mutant ∆ybjX: Implications for oxidative stress resistance and bacterial vesicle production
May 25, 2017
April 28, 2017
Mid-Atlantic Prep and IMSD Symposium, University of Baltimore
Duke Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) Annual Symposium, Duke University
Exploring the Role of Transactivation Response RNA Binding Protein (TRBP) in the MicroRNA Maturation Pathway
November 14, 2013
Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), Tampa FL