PhD Student
Cornell University
Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
Ithaca, NY 14853
04/2007, BS, Genetics and Biotechnology, Brigham Young University
04/2007, Minor, Psychology, Brigham Young University
Graduate Advisor: Sam Cartinhour
Research Focus
Emerging evidence suggests that pathogenic bacteria sense and respond to light, but how light affects gene regulation and pathogenesis is still unknown. We know that the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 has a functional blue light photoreceptor, and that a homolog activated by blue light leads to increased growth rate and virulence in Brucella abortus (Swartz et al., Science 2007). The DC3000 blue light photoreceptor contains a regulator domain suggesting a role in gene regulation, and possibly light-regulated virulence (Cao et al., Biophysical J 2008). We also know that DC3000 has two putative bacteriophytochromes (Losi & Gartner. Photochem Photobiol Sci 2008) that are highly homologous to a functional P. aeruginosa red light photoreceptor (Yang et al. PNAS, 2008). Further, I have reproducible data showing that knockouts in either PSPTO_2896 (from two independently derived mutants) or PSPTO_2652 have a two-fold reduction in swarming motility. This suggests a functional role for both genes.
To investigate light-regulated gene expression, I am creating a mini-Tn5-luxCDABE insertion library to measure reporter activity in response to a light stimulus. I have already discovered that a small number of reporters appear to show a light-dependent response during apreliminary screen of 1000 mutants. I am also conducting swarming, swimming, and twitching assays for library mutants, andlight-dependent motility for DC3000.
Professional Experience
May 2008-current -PhD Thesis Research Pseudomonas syringae genomics, Ithaca, New York. Light regulated gene expression in P. syringae DC3000, and crypticgene analysis
February 2008 April 2008-Split luciferase system for protein-protein interactions in vivo, Ithaca, New York. Lab rotation: Split luciferase assay identifying Avr-R gene proteininteractions between P. syringae and tomato
November 2007 January 2008-Light regulated gene expression in P. syringae, Ithaca, New York. Lab rotation: Screening LuxCDABE Library for reporter activity inresponse to a light stimulus
August 2007-October 2007-Streptomyces scabies gene regulation, Ithaca, New York. Lab rotation: Directed mutagenesis of sigB, and characterization of CFA regulator knock out
September 2006 -July 2007 - Research Collaboration with USDA, La Jornada research station, Provo, Utah –NCBI comparative genomics study of fungal genes in published Arabidopsis genome
August 2006- July 2007 - Mentored Research Lead, BYU Biotechnology Lab, Provo, Utah –Amaranth floral dip transformation adapted from Arabidopsis
June 2006 -July 2007 - Native shrub and grass tissue culturing for endophyte transfer, Provo, Utah – Inoculating plants with foreign endophytes from native Utah shrubs and grasses to increase robustness of host
May - August 2006 - REU – University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah –Genbank BLAST to create hydrogenase phylogeny - screening Great Salt Lake samples for novel hydrogenases
January 2006 -July 2007 -Mentored Research Assistant Lead, BYU Plant Pathology Lab, Provo, Utah – Investigating endophyte effects on drought resistance for 10+ forage grass varieties
May 2005 through December 2005 -Monsanto Breeding Technologies Intern, Ankeny, Iowa –Designing experiments for hard to map traits and corn breeding activities
October 2004 through May 2005 -Mentored Research Assistant Lead, BYU Plant Pathology Lab, Provo, Utah – Identifying presence and alkaloid production of endophytes in 10 unique forage grasses
February 2004 through April 2005 - Research Assistant, BYU Genetics Lab, Provo, Utah –Mapping the saponins gene in the Bolivian cereal crop Quinoa
Awards and Honors
May-June 2008 - Rice Research to Production Short Course participant,IRRI, Los Banos, Philippines
August 2007 - USDA National Needs Microbial Genomics Fellowship, Ithaca, New York
July 2007 - American Phytopathological Society Oral Presentation, San Diego, California
July 2007 - American Phytopathological Society Technical Session Moderator, San Diego, California
March 2007- NSF Graduate Fellowship Rankings: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Good
January 2007 - ORCA Grant recipient, Provo, Utah
August 2006 - Ludella J. Nilson Scholarship recipient, Provo, Utah August 2006 - William B. Hebard Scholarship recipient, Provo, Utah
July 2006 - Annual American Phytopathological Society Meeting Travel Scholarship, Quebec City, Canada
May 2006 - Department Spring/Summer Scholarship, Provo, Utah March 2006 - ORCA Grant recipient, Provo, Utah
November 2005 - Agriculture Future of America Leadership Conference Scholarship, Kansas City, Missouri
January 2006 - Marcus Daly Scholarship recipient, Provo, Utah
May 2005 through December 2005- Monsanto Breeding Technology Internship, Ankeny, Iowa 2005 - Student Employee of the Year Nomination, BYU, Provo, Utah March 2005 - ORCA Grant recipient, Provo, Utah
January 2005 - Plant and Animal Genome Conference Travel Scholarship, San Diego, California
June 2004 - Radiation certified, Provo, Utah
November 2004- Purdue Graduation Exposition Travel Scholarship, West Lafayette, Indiana
May 1999- Eagle Scout – Organized and conducted an American Red Cross Blood Drive, Springfield, Virginia
Elected and Appointed Offices
August 2007 Graduate and Professional Student Assembly Plant Pathology Rep
Professional Societies and Working Groups
American Phytopathological Society Member