CV

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

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