CV
Education
B.S. in Biology, New Mexico State University — Dec 2024
GPA: 3.3Associate of Science, Arrowhead Park Early College High School — May 2020
Research Experience
Postgraduate Researcher — University of Georgia
Aug 2024 – Jan 2026
- Developed an open-source reproducible Snakemake pipeline that automates genome assembly, quality control, annotation, and comparative genomic analyses for over 2,500 Salmonella enterica isolates
- Applied bioinformatics and comparative genomics approach to investigate genetic diversity, population structure, and evolutionary patterns across environmental and clinical populations
- Integrated genomic data with metadata to investigate trends in pathogen distribution and anti-microbial resistance across time and environment
- Utilized Linux, high performance computing (HPC), R, and Python to perform large scale genomic analyses, statistical modeling, and data visualization
Undergraduate Researcher — New Mexico State University
Oct 2022 – Dec 2024
- Conducted plant genomics and phylogenetic research investigating evolutionary relationships within Agave species using comparative genomic and bioinformatic approaches
- Applied computational biology tools for sequence analysis, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic inference, and genomic data interpretation
- Utilized flow cytometry to estimate and characterize genome size variation in Leucaena leucocephala, a leguminous tree species of ecological and agricultural importance
USDA REEU Research Intern — University of Georgia
May 2023 – July 2023
- Conducted phylogenomic analysis of Agave species to investigate evolutionary relationships and clarify taxonomic classification within the genus
- Assisted with greenhouse management of hermaphroditic asparagus breeding populations used in plant genetics and reproductive biology research
- Collected floral phenotypic measurements, including stigma length and reproductive characteristics, to investigate variation among plant genomes
NSF REU Research Intern — University of Texas at El Paso
June 2021 – Aug 2021
- Investigated establishment and growth strategies of native Chihuahuan Desert grasses under arid environmental conditions through greenhouse experiments
- Conducted field-based soil sampling and environmental sampling in arid ecosystems to assess microbial and ecological community structure
- Performed DNA extractions from soil samples to characterize microbial communities associated with desert plant root systems
Technical Skills
Programming & Data Analysis
- R (tidyverse, ggplot2)
- Python
- C++
- Unix/Linux command line
- Git & GitHub
Bioinformatics & Genomics
- Comparative genomics
- Phylogenomics
- Antimicrobial resistance analysis
- Workflow automation with Snakemake
- Genomic data analysis
Laboratory Techniques
- DNA/RNA extraction
- PCR
- Flow cytometry
Leadership & Awards
- Programming and Algorithms Club — University of Georgia (2025–2026)
- McNair Research Scholar — New Mexico State University (2023–2024)
- HOSA — Vice President of Fundraising (2019)
- GAPP Cultural Exchange Participant (2017)
Languages
- English (Fluent)
- Spanish (Fluent)