Education
- M.S. Biology, California State University, Northridge (CSUN), 2017
- B.S. Microbiology, CSUN, 2014
Research Appointments
- NIH MBRS-RISE Graduate Fellow, 2016-2017
- Advisors: Dr. Michael Summers and Dr. MariaElena Zavala
- Graduate Student Researcher, 2014–2016
- Advisor: Michael Summers
- Undergraduate Student Researcher, CSUN. 2013–2014
- Advisor: Michael Summers
Teaching Experience
- Presenter/Trainer, Los Angeles Mission College (LAMC)
- Worked with biology and microbiology professors during lab sessions. Managed tutors in the tutoring center, including all responsibilities of a Science Tutor. 2015–2016
- Science Tutor, LAMC
- Biology, microbiology, general chemistry and introductory chemistry. Led 1–3 hour workshops reinforcing important lab/lecture concepts. 2013–2015
- Graduate Assistant, CSUN
- Aided in setting-up and teaching laboratory classes in introductory microbiology and bacterial genetics. Responsibilities included—but not limited to—preparing media and stock cultures, PCR amplification, and gel electrophoresis. 2014–2015
Professional Societies
- American Society for Microbiology (ASM)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- CSUN Microbiology Students Association
Relevant Coursework
Computer Modelling in Biology, Molecular Genetics of Microorganisms, Applied Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bacterial Diversity, Mechanisms of Bacterial Pathogenesis, Virology, Medical Microbiology, Biochemistry
Service
- Guest judge for Introductory Biology and Microbiology student poster competition, 2014–2015, LAMC
- Guest speaker for Introductory Biology class, 2013, College of the Canyons, Valencia CA
- Talked about research interests, future goals, and potential career paths for aspiring biologists and chemists.
Research Skills
- DNA
- Phenol:chloroform DNA extraction
- Gene overexpression and site-directed mutagenesis
- Transcriptional and translational reporters
- Plasmid library construction
- CRISPR-interference
- Protein
- Bacterial two-hybrid, β-galactosidase/ Miller assay
- Protein induction and purification in E. coli
- Western blot, immunochemistry
- Lipids
- Enrichment using artificial selection and gene editing
- Extraction, purification, TLC, GC-MS
- Bioinformatics
- Databases (STRING-DB, KEGG, NCBI, CyanoBase, UniProt, SwissProt)
- Homology modeling (UCSF Chimera, Phyre2.0, PyMol)
- Proficiency in Python
- Microscopy
- Epifluorescence, confocal
Conferences Attended
- SACNAS National Conference, Long Beach, CA, 2016
- Southern California Microbiome Symposium, UC Irvine. Irvine, CA., 2016
Presentations
5. Geiger SH, Summers ML. Characterization of a protein associated with lipid droplets in the cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme.Conference on Algal Biomass, Biofuels and Bioproducts, Miami, FL. Poster, 2017
4. Geiger SH, Summers ML. Npun_F0288 plays a role in lipid droplet production and filament integrity in Nostoc punctiforme. Workshop on Cyanobacteria, Tempe, AZ. Poster, 2016
3. Geiger SH, Peramuna A, Summers ML. Characterization of cyanobacterial lipid droplets and lipid droplet-associated proteins. American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, New Orleans, LA. Poster, 2015
2. Geiger SH, Peramuna A, Summers ML. Characterization of cyanobacterial lipid droplets and lipid droplet-associated proteins. California State University Program for Education and Research in Biology (CSUPERB) Annual Symposium, Santa Clara, CA. Poster, 2015
1. Geiger SH, Peramuna A, Summers ML. Characterization of cyanobacterial lipid droplets and lipid droplet-associated proteins. CSUN Creative Works Symposium, Northridge, CA. Poster, 2015
Awards
- Minority Biomedical Research Support – Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-RISE) Graduate Fellowship, 2016-2017
- CSUN Department of Graduate Studies, graduate student travel award, 2015
- CSUN Division of Student Affairs, Associated Students, Student Travel and Academic Research (STAR) Funding, 2015
- CSUN Department of Biology, graduate student travel award, 2015