OrcID: 0000-0001-7928-8673
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIENCE
2019 – Present Postdoctoral Researcher
Department of Zoology; Biochemistry, University of Oxford, UK
Advisor: Prof. Kevin Foster
Research topic: The ecology and evolution of bacterial toxin spectrum
2016 – 2019 Research Assistant
Bioengineering Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, USA
Advisor: Prof. Vanni Bucci
Thesis title: “Characterization of Class IIb Microcins and Application Against Antibiotic Resistant Enteric Bacteria”
2015 – 2017 Research Assistant
Bioengineering Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, USA
Advisor: Prof. Christopher Brigham
Research topic: Utilization of seafood processing waste as carbon and nitrogen feedstock for biodiesel production through the development of engineered Rhodococcus opacus PD630.
2014 – 2015 Teaching Assistant
Bioengineering Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, USA
2012 – 2014 Microbiologist
Tate and Lyle, PLC, West Lafayette, IN, USA
EDUCATION
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, USA
Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology, 2019
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
B.S. Biological Sciences, 2012
PUBLICATIONS
2021 Cunrath, O.* and Palmer JD*. An overview of Salmonella enterica metal homeostasis pathways during infection. microLife, Volume 2, 2021, uqab001.
2020 Palmer JD, Mortzfeld BM, Piattelli E, Silby MW, McCormick BA, Bucci V. Microcin H47: A Class IIb Microcin with Potent Activity Against Multi-Drug Resistant Enterobacteriaceae. ACS Infect Dis 2020;6(4):672-679.
2018 Chakravarty J, Yang C, Palmer JD, Brigham CJ. Chitin Extraction from Lobster Shell Waste using Microbial Culture-based Methods. Appl Food Biotechnol. 2018; 5(3): 141-154.
2017 Palmer JD, Piattelli E, McCormick BA, Silby MW, Brigham CJ, Bucci V. Engineered Probiotic for the Inhibition of Salmonella via Tetrathionate-Induced Production of Microcin H47. ACS Infect Dis 2018;4(1):39-45.
2016 Palmer JD, Brigham CJ. Feasibility of triacylglycerol production for biodiesel, utilizing Rhodococcus opacus as a biocatalyst and fishery waste as feedstock. Renew Sust Energ Rev 2016;56:922-928.
2016 Brigham CJ, Kehail AA, Palmer JD. Ralstonia Eutropha and the Production of Value Added Products: Metabolic Background of the Wild-Type Strain and its Role as a Diverse, Genetically-Engineered Biocatalyst Organism. In: Koller M, editor. Recent Advances in Biotechnology: Bentham Books; 2016. p. 265-347.
* Co-first author
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Uncovering fundamental principles of microbial ecology and evolution regarding successful strategies and tactics during intra- and interspecies conflict within the mammalian gut.
Development of engineered microbes to sense and eradicate relevant human pathogens via antimicrobial molecule production.
Discovery, characterization, and utilization of naturally occurring and/or chimeric antimicrobial peptides for the development of next-generation antibiotics.
TEACHING
2021 Year 2 – Master’s in Biology Tutorials
– Salmonella pathogenesis and nutritional immunity
2020 Year 2 – Master’s in Biology Tutorials
– Posttranslational modification of bacterial weapons
– Interbacterial toxins: strategy and diversity
2015 Current topics in Bioengineering – Instructor of Record
2014 Bioprocess Engineering Laboratory – Laboratory Teaching Assistant
AWARDS AND HONORS
2018 National Institute of General Medical Sciences Scholarship ($2,000)
2015 – 2019 Distinguished Doctoral Fellowship ($96,000 over 4 years)
2016 UMass Dartmouth 3-minute Thesis Competition Winner ($1,000)
2016 American Society of Microbiology Student Travel Award ($500)
2012 Interns for Indiana Scholarship ($500)
2010, 2011 Academic All Big Ten (Men’s Athletics)
2010 – 2012 Ben Korschot Perseverance Award (Full Tuition Scholarship – $8,000/yr)
2010 Purdue University Sportsman of the Year
2009 – 2011 Purdue University Men’s Athletics Team Captain
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
2019 International Conference on Microbiome Engineering – Towards Engineered Probiotics to Deliver Narrow-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides Against Drug-Resistant Enteric Bacteria (Poster)*
2019 Synthetic Biology: Evolution, Engineering and Design (SEED) – Engineered Probiotic for the Inhibition of Salmonella via Tetrathionate-Induced Production of Microcin H47 (Poster)*
2018 International Conference on Microbiome Engineering – Application of Catechol Microcins As Antimicrobial Peptides for the Prevention of Enteric Disease (Poster)
2018 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Synthetic Biology – Synthetic Biology course graduate and NIH GMS scholarship
2018 Jackson Laboratory – Comprehensive Workshop on Mouse Biomethods course graduate
2018 Synthetic Biology: Evolution, Engineering and Design (SEED) – Engineered Probiotic for the Inhibition of Salmonella via Tetrathionate-Induced Production of Microcin H47 (Poster)
2018 Boston Bacterial Meeting – Engineered Probiotic for the Inhibition of Salmonella via Tetrathionate-Induced Production of Microcin H47 (Oral Presentation)
2016 International Genetically Engineered Machines – Competition Judge
2016 Boston Bacterial Meeting – N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as an Advanced Feedstock for Biocatalytic Conversion to Triacylglycerol by Rhodococcus opacus PD630, Towards Sustainable Biodiesel Production (Poster)
2016 American Society of Microbiology – N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as an Advanced Feedstock for Biocatalytic Conversion to Triacylglycerol by Rhodococcus opacus PD630, Towards Sustainable Biodiesel Production (Poster)
2016 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth chapter of Sigma Xi – N-acetyl-D-glucosamine as an Advanced Feedstock for Biocatalytic Conversion to Triacylglycerol by Rhodococcus opacus PD630, Towards Sustainable Biodiesel Production (Poster)
Single nucleotide polymorphism in hemA confers phototoxicity resistance to visible light for Citrobacter rodentium (Poster)*
* Not presenting author
UNIVERSITY SERVICE AND OUTREACH
2019 Biochemistry First Year Research Shadowing Volunteer (University of Oxford)
2019 Biochemistry Department Open Day (University of Oxford)
2015 – 2019 Synthetic Biology Club – Founder and member
2015 – 2016 International Genetically Engineered Machines – Head instructor/advisor
2015 – 2016 Freshman Summer Institute – Lead instructor and curriculum developer