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Alina A. Corcoranshe/her/hers
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Current Laboratory Members
Neeshia Hee Macanowiczshe/her/hers
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Thuy Nyugenshe/her/hers
Postdoctoral Researcher With a B.S. in Biotechnology from Cantho University, I moved to the University of Mississippi to earn both my M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Biology. My dissertation focused on probing microbial interactions and coordinated trophic responses in biological soil crusts. My passion lies in the discovery of natural products from marine cyanobacteria and algae cultures. I have skills and experience with LC-MS analysis, next generation sequencing (in both DNA library preparation and data analysis), and strain engineering. I enjoy both the bench work and the computational work. I joined the Corcoran Lab in March 2024 to support the DOE-funded project AvATAC (Antivirulence Approaches to Treat Algal Crops). In my postdoctoral training, I hope to branch out my knowledge of algal-bacteria interactions and synthetic ecology. My goal is to uncover how their interaction impacts metabolite production and growth rate in algal polycultures, with the aim to enhance their productivity and robustness. Additionally, I have a keen interest in genetically engineering algae strains to maximize their performance in production systems. Please contact me if you are interested in collaborating!
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Maya Gabitzsch
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Undergraduate Research Assistant
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I am currently pursuing a double major in Biology and Environmental Science at New Mexico State University, with an expected graduation in Fall 2024. Following this, I will join the Corcoran Lab as a Master's student. My previous research has concentrated on soil microbiology, specifically biocrusts in the Chihuahuan desert. In addition, I have experience in analyzing the soil microbiome metabolomics of gypsum deserts. My research interests are centered on studying bacterial-environment interactions to deciphering the underlying mechanisms of these interactions. Until I can start my graduate studies, I am assisting on multiple projects in the Corcoran lab including the DOE-funded projects CRIAS (Cultivation-Ready Improved Algae Strains for Increased Carbon Utilization Efficiency) and W2J (Waste to Jet), led by MicrobioEngineering and the Los Alamos National Laboratory, respectively.