Education

  • Ph.D. in Chemistry
    • University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
    • Expected graduation: May 2017
    • Graduate courses: Organic Spectroscopy (Fall 2012), Separations and Chromatography (Fall 2012), Analytical Measurement: Chemometrics (Fall 2013), Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Surface Analysis (Fall 2013), Topics in Chemistry: Introduction to Biospectroscopy (Spring 2014), Writing Class (Spring 2014), and Bioanalytical Techniques (Spring 2015).
  • B.S. in Chemistry
    • Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
    • Graduated: April 2011
    • Minor in Mathematics

Research Experience

  • University of Missouri-Columbia
    • Research focused on the use of spectroscopic techniques to study protein structure, folding, and dynamics. Using deep-UV resonance Raman, the polypeptide backbone amide is excited and structurally sensitive amide modes in the spectra can be analyzed to study protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions
  • Beam Engineering for Advanced Materials
    • Chemist
    • Winter Park, FL
    • June 2011- August 2012
    • Researched, synthesized, and characterized organic compounds and materials, primarily liquid crystals, reactive mesogens and chiral dopants, for use with advanced optical technologies and research
    • Extensively trained on Agilent Technologies 7890A GC System, Agilent Technologies 5975C inert MSD with Triple-Axis detector, and Mettler Toledo Differential Calorimetry
    • Spearheaded emergency and safety protocols instituted company-wide.
    • Training for clean room procedures
    • Developed a training and troubleshooting manual for Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy analysis
    • Placed and tracked chemical orders
    • Assisted in lab management
  • Florida State University
    • Undergraduate Researcher
    • Dr. William Cooper Lab
    • Tallahassee, FL
    • January 2011-June 2011
    • Research focused on the characterization of dissolved organic matter in northern peat land soil through Florescence and UV/Vis spectroscopy

Teaching Experience

  • College Chemistry II (CHEM 1330)
    • Spring 2016
  • Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 3200)
    • Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015 and Fall 2015
  • College Chemistry I (CHEM 1320)
    • Fall 2012 and Fall 2013
  • Atoms and Molecules (CHEM 1100)
    • Spring 2013

Conference Participation

  • Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Forum 2016 - Judge
  • National Association of Graduate-Professional Students South Central and Midwest Conference - Oral
  • National Alliance for Broader Impacts 2016 Summit - Attendant
  • GPC Research and Creative Activities Forum 2016 - Oral
  • AAAS Annual Meeting 2016 - Poster
  • Mizzou 3MT 2015 - Oral
  • GPC Research and Creative Activities Forum 2015 - Session Chair and Oral
  • Mizzou Life Sciences Week 2015 - Poster
  • ComSciCon 2015 - Poster
  • SciWri15 2015 - Attendant and Reporter
  • #RSCAnalyticalPoster 2015 - Poster
  • Mizzou Life Sciences Week 2014 - Poster
  • American Chemical Society National Meeting 2014 - Oral and Poster
  • American Chemical Society Midwest Regional Meeting 2014 - Session Organizer, Session Chair, Oral and Poster
  • SciX 2013 - Poster
  • American Physical Society Regional Prairie Section 2013 - Poster
  • Mizzou Life Sciences Week 2015 - Poster

Honors, Awards, Recognition

  • 2016 Inductee of the Rollins Society
  • 2016 University of Missouri Chemistry Department Travel Grant
  • 2016 Mizzou Advantage Travel Grant
  • 2014 Graduate Student Association Travel Grant
  • 2014 Graduate Professional Council Travel Grant
  • 2013 FACSS Student Poster Award Recipient at SciX

Professional Societies

  •  American Chemical Society
  •  American Association for the Advancement of Science
  • American Physics Society
  • Society for Applied Spectroscopy
  • Society of Women Engineers
  • The American Institute of Chemical Engineers

Contributions and Synergistic Activities

  • Broader Impacts Network Advisory Board
  • Chemistry Graduate Student Organization

Workshops

  • ComSciCon 2015
  • SciWri15
  • Entering Mentoring
  • How to be a Super Communicator by NSF EPSCoR
  • Improvisation for Science Communication by Dr. Suzanne Burgoyne
  • 3-Minute Presentation Clinic with Dr. Darcy Gentleman