CURRICULUM VITAE


Download my CV or resume by clicking on the icons below or view the content of my CV by scrolling down.




Resume Here


CV Here

QUICK LINKS



Overview
Relevant Experience
Teaching Experience

Publications
Presentations
Education

Professional Affiliations
Grants and Awards
Community Service


OVERVIEW:


Computational biologist with over 3 years of experience developing, creating, and implementing applications for universities, students, and scientists in the field of genetics. Translated biology needs into code and web applications by conceptualizing and managing multiple full-stack development lifecycles to bridge the gap between computer science and biology.



● Database management

● Analytical problem solver

● Enthusiastic and solutions-oriented


● Knowledge of biology and genetics

● Effective communicator: oral/grant

● Detail-oriented and focused


● Object-oriented programming

● Self-learner and self-motivated

● Works well on a team and independently



Languages:

Python, R, JavaScript, C/C++, Perl, SQL, Git, BASH shell scripting

Web Development:

HTML, CSS, Flask, Django, Docker, Heroku

File Formats:

FASTQ, SAM, BAM

DBMS:

MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB

Operating Systems:

Linux, Unix, OS X




RELEVANT EXPERIENCE:


Master Thesis Project | Washington State University
Topic: "Patterns of diversity in leaf endophyte communities across highly differentiated populations of Theobroma cacao"

  • Utilized new methods to detect patterns in host-microbe relationships by using R scripts for data analysis, such as t-SNE for non-linear dimensionality reduction analysis of the chocolate plant's microbiome
  • Accessed and manipulated 200 Illumina sequencing files on HPC clusters using BASH scripting and conducted quality control by filtering based on parameters, such as read count thresholds
  • Compared accuracy of data analyses based on normalization techniques, such as TPM and default normalization parameters for R bioinformatics packages DESeq2 and edgeR

August 2019-Present


Software Developer, Bacteriophage Database | Illinois Wesleyan University
Project Links: Open-source software can be found on GitHub repositories: phagesdb, phagesdb2

  • Designed, developed, and maintained two full-stack web-based softwares as a solution to student data management concerns, allowing scientists to efficiently track novel bacteriophage data for research
  • Implemented SQL queries to accurately sift through sequencing records for analysis and extraction of data
  • Utilized various technical and software development tools such as Django, Flask, SQL, NodeJS, Cloud9 (software), MongoDB (NRDBMS), MySQL (RDBMS), GitHub, Git, PyCharm (software), and Heroku to create customized web-based software solution
  • Effectively communicated software relevancy to front-end users (biologists) at an annual research conference

May 2018 – May 2019


Software Developer, Student Personal Planner | Illinois Wesleyan University

  • Collaborated with a team of three software engineers on a full-stack development application using Python, Django, Flask, SQL, MySQL, GitHub, and Git to resolve student concerns with assignment planning and organizing

August 2018 – December 2018


Biofortification Research Intern | International Rice Research Institute

  • Analyzed QTL maps of phenotypic and genotypic properties of high zinc rice varieties in the Plant Breeding Division to help identify genes for rice hybridization as a means to help solve global malnutrition
  • Conducted additional activities related to rice hybridization, element concentration measurements, phenotyping and genotyping, data gathering, and analysis
  • Prepared written and oral report summarizing experience and presented to Plant Breeding research team

Summer 2017


SEA-PHAGES Research Assistant | Illinois Wesleyan University

  • Worked for the Science Education Alliance Program: Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (also known as SEA-PHAGES).
  • Isolated, purified, sequenced, and analyzed newly discovered bacteriophages.
  • Presented relevance research at the John Wesley Powell Research Conference in the spring.

August 2015 – May 2016




EDUCATION:


Washington State University (WSU) | Master's Degree
Major: Biology, Certificate: Bioinformatics
Course Highlights: Data Science, Bioinformatics, Population Genetics, Mathematical Genetics, Grant Writing

May 2021


Illinois Wesleyan University (IWU) | Bachelor's Degree
Major: Biology, Minor: Computer Science
Course Highlights: Software Development, Algorithm Design and Analysis, Database Systems, Discrete Mathematics

June 2019



TEACHING EXPERIENCE:


Mentor for Undergraduate Researcher | Washington State University

  • Responsible for organizing and instructing undergraduate mentee in contribution to the cacao project.
  • Hold biweekly meetings for open discussions regarding research objectives, related journal articles and reviews, troubleshooting concerns, and general professional advice.

Fall 2019-Present


BIOL 106: Organismal Biology (Teaching Assistant) | Washington State University, Biological Sciences

  • Taught an average of 35 undergraduate students per section, with three sections per semester.
  • The course covered a range of topics pertaining to plant and animal anatomy/physiology.

Fall 2020


BIOL 405: Principles of Organic Evolution (Teaching Assistant) | Washington State University, Biological Sciences

  • Taught an average of 25 undergraduate students per section, with one section per semester.
  • Taught hour long introduction lectures each week, actively led class discussions, and assisted with answering questions that covered a range of introductory concepts in evolutionary biology.

2019-Spring 2020


BIOL 106: Organismal Biology (Teaching Assistant) | Washington State University, Biological Sciences

  • Taught an average of 35 undergraduate students per section, with three sections per semester.
  • The course covered a range of topics pertaining to plant and animal anatomy/physiology.

Fall 2019


BIOL 306: Plant and Fungal Diversity (Teaching Assistant) | Illinois Wesleyan University, Biological Sciences

  • Taught an average of 35 undergraduate students twice a week per semester.
  • Assisted students with classifying and identifying specimen in taxonomic ordering, such as: fungi, slime molds, cyanobacteria, algae, bryophytes, eusporangiate and leptosporangiate gymnosperms, and angiosperms.

2017-2018

BIOL 375: Plant Anatomy and Physiology (Teaching Assistant) | Illinois Wesleyan University, Biological Sciences

  • Taught an average of 35 undergraduate students twice a week per semester.
  • The course covered the following topics: plant cell structures, vegetative and reproductive plant body structure in angiosperms, pollination syndromes, sporogenesis, gametogenesis, fruit and flower morphologies, and plant tissue types.

Fall 2018



PUBLICATIONS:


  1. Dolan, M. and Cornejo, O. (2020). Diverse endophyte composition across highly divergent populations of the chocolate tree, Theobroma cacao L. Manuscript in preparation, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University.

  2. Dolan, M. (2020). A Web-Based Application for Efficient Organization of Microbial Genomic Data Manuscript in preparation, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University.

  3. Dolan, M. and Cornejo, O. (2020). Web-Based Bacteriophage Organization SystemManuscript in preparation, Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois Wesleyan University. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.3625228.


PRESENTATIONS:


Dolan, M. (2018). Development of a Rhodobacter capsulatus Bacteriophage Database Application. Oral presentation given at the IWU Criley Research Conference.

Dolan, M. (2017). Zinc Biofortification Research Conducted at the International Rice Research Institute. Oral presentation given at the IWU Biology Internship Conference.

Dolan, M., Braun, M., Lennon, J., Lane, S., and Alvey, R. (2016). Genetic Analyses and Annotations of Three Newly Discovered C1 Mycobacteriophages. Poster session presented at the John Wesley Powell Research Conference.



PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:


Biology Graduate Student Association
Community Outreach Chair

Summer 2020-Present

Graduate Women in Science (GWIS)
Active Member

Spring 2020-Present

The National Society of Leadership and Success
Inducted/Active Member

Spring 2018-Present

The National FFA Organization
Student Advisor, Secretary, and Alumni

Spring 2013-Present



GRANTS AND AWARDS:


Carl H. Elling Travel Endowment
Washington State University - $1,500.00

Spring 2020

Carl H. Elling Travel Endowment
Washington State University - $531.46

Fall 2019

Undergraduate Dean's List
Illinois Wesleyan University

2018, 2019

Criley Research Fellowship Grant
Illinois Wesleyan University - $4,000.00

Summer 2018

Freeman Asia Internship Grant
Illinois Wesleyan University - $2,500.00

Summer 2017

TOTAL: $8,531.46




COMMUNITY SERVICE/ADDITIONAL AFFILIATIONS:


Million Women Mentors (MWM)
Volunteer Member

2020-Present

Palouse Science (Children’s) Discovery Center
Volunteer Member

2019-Present

Alpha Phi Omega – Professional Service Fraternity
Inducted/Active Member

2018-Present

Illinois Wesleyan University's Peace Garden
Community Volunteer Member

2016-2019