Brooke L. Smith, PhD Candidate at Texas A&M University, Pursuing a Career in Government or Industry
BROOKE SMITH,
Texas A&M University Abstract Number: 792
Working Group: Meet the Job Seekers
AbstractI am currently a 4
th year PhD candidate at Texas A&M University in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering. I completed my undergraduate studies at North Carolina A&T State University where I studied Biological Engineering with a concentration in Natural Resources Engineering. During undergraduate studies I developed my interest in microbiology and molecular biology. My first microbiological research experience was in a summer research program through the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University where I began the research that soon became my dissertation topic. After undergraduate studies I joined Dr. Maria King in the Aerosol Technology Laboratory at Texas A&M University to continue in my interests in microbiology, infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance in bioaerosols.
Currently my work is focused on bacterial behaviors in response to aerosolization stress, especially in relation to antibiotic resistance development and mechanisms. In my research I aerosolize gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria into an airtight temperature and relative humidity chamber and collect the bioaerosols using a wetted-wall cyclone bioaerosol collector. I compile environmental data such as the temperature, relative humidity and droplet characterization to monitor the environmental stressors bacteria experience. As a result, I am able to analyze culturability, phenotypic changes, antibiotic resistance development, and expression of antibiotic resistance genes.
In addition to experiments I used molecular modeling (MD) to visualize the activity of bacterial proteins-ligand interactions involved in antibiotic resistance mechanisms when in contact with antibiotics and coping with environmental stressors.
I am very passionate about research and development and science policy specifically in relation to infectious disease mitigation and biosecurity.
I will be available to start employment in mid-August 2024 with preference to government or industry opportunities.
Defense Date: June 2024
Graduation Date: August 2024
Email: blsmith5@tamu.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-smith-66036b135