Alyssa Alsante, Ph.D. Candidate Pursuing a Postdoctoral Research Position
ALYSSA ALSANTE,
Texas A&M University Abstract Number: 586
Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
AbstractI completed a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology at the University of Tennessee, and I am currently a Ph.D. candidate with Dr. Daniel Thornton (advisor) in the Department of Oceanography and Dr. Sarah Brooks (co-advisor) in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Texas A&M University. My research interests include understanding the aerosolization and dispersal of microbes and their role in cloud formation and climate. My dissertation research is focused on characterizing sources of marine atmospheric ice nucleating particles (INPs). Specifically, I am investigating organic biomolecules as INPs such as amino acids, enzymes, and nucleic acids to better understand their composition. I have also conducted experiments using a marine aerosol reference tank to understand ice nucleation from different phytoplankton groups throughout the entire growth cycle and during a viral lysis event. I am now using more controlled and defined continuous-culturing methods to understand how physiological status affects ice nucleation. In the field, I have participated in small-vessel coastal research and large-vessel research for the North Atlantic Aerosols and Marine Ecosystems Study (NAAMES) to link seasonal phytoplankton changes with aerosol production. I collected aerosol impactor samples for ice nucleation analysis and assisted with aerosol instrumentation. My skillset includes growth and maintenance of microbial cultures and viruses, biomass and physiological status indicators, extraction and sequencing of nucleic acid, optical and epifluorescence microscopy, aerosol impactor sampling, ice nucleation analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. I currently have one first author and three co-author manuscripts published with an additional two in review and two in preparation manuscripts. I have had two platform presentations at academic conferences and one departmental seminar presentation. I am looking for an academic postdoctoral research position to continue research on aerosolized microbes and their role in ice-containing cloud formation. I anticipate graduating in Summer 2023 with a start date in Fall 2023.