Education

Purdue University
West Lafayette , IN
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry
Minor: French
December 2003

Research Experience

Purdue University
Dept of Biochemistry
West Lafayette, IN
Research Assistant (Fall 2004 - current)

"Cytoskeleton proteins and Histones of Leishmania mexicana mexicana."
Principal Investigator: James Forney Ph. D.

The goal of this project is to identify particular proteins for promastigotes and amstigotes; as well as, the identification of particular histones in promastigotes and amastigotes. I have worked on the following tasks:

• Researching how Leishmania mexicana mexicana is regulated.
• Protocol design for protein extraction.
• Identification of potential histones by westerns.
• Attending weekly group seminars.
• Attended 36 th Annual Midwest Protozoology Conference on April 24, 2004 at The University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.

University of Missouri-Columbia
Dept of Plant Microbiology and Pathology
Columbia, Missouri
Research Intern (Summer 2003)

"Characterization of virus resistance in Nicotiana."
Principal Investigator: James Schoelz Ph. D.

I contributed to two projects. One project involved the introgression of the chromosome that contains the N gene from N glutinosa to N. clevelandii . The incorporation of this chromosome into the N. clevelandii genome allowed us to identify other virus resistance genes located on that chromosome. The second project involved the characterization of the N gene from N. edwardsonii , a Nicotiana species that contains the N gene but is susceptible to TMV. The immediate goal of this project was to determine if the N gene nucleotide sequence might contain a mutation that undermines its effectiveness in preventing TMV infections.

• Planting and breeding of plants.
• Preparation and harvesting of tissue.
• Clone, and sequence N. gene derived from N. edwardsonii
• PCR, and ligation for cloning experiment
• Achieved main goal: found that we can use N. edwardsonii var. Columbia and N. clevelandii plants to determine what other virus resistance genes are located on this N. glutinosa .
• Our results indicated that a pair of N. glutinosa chromosomes have been introgressed.
• Partial characterization, the first 800 base pairs, of the N gene from N. edwardsonni.

Purdue University
USDA Lab
West Lafayette, IN
Honors Research Thesis

"Comparing expression of pathogenesis-related genes in resistant and susceptible wheat to expression of the same genes in a non-host response in oat."
Principal Investigator: Christie Williams Ph. D.

The goal of project was to identify which genes were being up-regulated or down regulated in wheat and oat.

• Grinding of samples
• RNA extraction of samples
• cDNA preparation of samples
• Real-time PCR of genes phenylalanine ammonia lyase ( PAL ), catalase, pathogenesis response gene 1( PR1 ), Hessian fly response gene 1( Hfr-1 ), proteinase inibitor ( PIN ), Wheat-chemically induced gene 2 ( Wci-2 ) and rubisco

Ecole Supérieure d'Agrigulture de Purpan ESAP ( Summer 2002)
Internship ( Summer 2001)

"Measuring glutenin levels in wheat of different ages and genotypes."
Internship in the Purdue University Study Abroad Program in France.
Principal Investigator: Monique Berger Ph.D.

The goal of project was to extract glutenin from wheat of different ages and genotypes and measure the amount of glutenin found in each sample.

• Grinding of samples
• Glutenin extraction of samples

Purdue University
Dept of Biochemistry
West Lafayette, IN
Intern in the MARC/AIM Program (Summer 2000)

Principal Investigator: Victor Rodwell, Ph. D.

I worked on the transformation, purification, and characterization of E. faecalis HMG-CoA synthase. Goal of project was to characterize E. faecalis HMG-CoA synthase. Project resulted in a paper being written.

• PCR for amplification of gene
• Cloning of gene into expression vector
• Purifying protein with nickel column
• Assaying protein

Purdue University
Dept of Biochemistry
West Lafayette, IN
Participated in Young Scholars program at Purdue University (Summer 1995)

"Finding genetic markers in wheat for Hessian Fly resistance genes."
Principal Investigator: Christie Williams Ph. D.

The goal of project was to see what university level research was about.

• PCR: RAPD's, Sequence-tagged sites

Publications and Presentations

Sutherlin, A., M. Hedl, B. Sanchez-Neri , J. W. Burgner II, C. V. Stauffacher, and V. W. Rodwell. 2002. " Enterococcus faecalis HMG-CoA synthase, an enzyme of isopentenyl diphosphate biosynthesis." J. Bacteriol. 184.

University of Columbia-Missouri MO (Summer 2003), Plant Genomics Internship Characterization of virus resistance in Nicotiana. Poster

MARC/AIM program, Purdue University (Summer 2001) The transformation, purification, and characterization of E. faecalis HMG-CoA synthase.

Young Scholars Program, Purdue University (Summer 1995) The finding of genetic markers in wheat for Hessian fly resistance genes. Posters

Awards, Honors and Activities

• Agricultural Research Fund Scholarships ( 2003)
• MARC/AIM participant (2000)
• Dow AgroSciences-Purdue University Scholarship (2000-2001)
• Hispanic Scholarship Fund (2001)
• Rex Hall Memorial Scholarship School of Agriculture Purdue University (2000-2001)
• Dean's List Second Semestre School of Agriculture Purdue University (1999)
• Freshman Award of Excellence School of Agriculture Purdue University (1999)
• Rotary Scholarship (1999)
• Meredith Hall Freshman Council Member (1999)
• Biochemistry Club
  • President (2002-2003)
  • Vice-President (2001-2002)