Even though many of our graduates will have progressed in their careers since completing a case study, they are still of interest to students who wish to gain an understanding of the world of work.

My primary focus is my research, which focuses on better understanding mechanisms of bacterial motility, specifically how bacteria sense their environment, and remodel their motility accordingly. This response comes from control of the motor, which drives flagellar rotation. My main interests concern understanding the role of two proteins important in the function of this motor. The first, FliL, is critical for swarming (a surfaced based mode of motility) and functions to maximize motor output while the second, YcgR, is mediated by the secondary messenger c-di-GMP and acts as a breaking mechanism to halt motility.

My previous research undertaken at The University of Texas at Dallas involved the study of the nitric-oxide sensitive transcriptional regulator NsrR. Prior to this I gained my PhD at The University of Sheffield (UK), where I further elucidated the regulon of the oxygen response regulator FNR and how the protein coordinated the adaption of E. coli to different growth conditions.

I also coordinate and teach Introductory Biology classes for undergraduate students at the University.

My days range typically involve lectures, supervising undergraduate and postgraduate students in a lab environment, writing grants and research papers, and conducting my own hands on research with time at the lab bench.

2005-2006: Postdoctoral Researcher - The University of Sheffield
2007-2009: Postdoctoral Researcher - The University of Texas at Dallas
2009-present: Research Associate - The University of Texas at Austin
2018-present: Assistant Professor of Instruction - The University of Texas at Austin

Currently planning grant applications to continue my research and secure independence in terms of funding, and to continue teaching at the University.