Research Software

QUALIFICATIONS PROFILE

High-powered, dedicated, and versatile professional, offering progressive

experience in modern anaerobic microbiological procedures, seeking a

sponsorship in a form of work visa (H1-B) to work as a microbiologist or

microbiologist technician. Adept at managing simultaneous studies, from

inception to completion, as well as stellar ability in supervising and

carrying out all phases of research with exceptional results. Demonstrate

broad background in diverse areas of microbiology (bacteriology, mycology,

virology, and parasitology), as well as, inter alia, pharmacology and

toxicology, food and meat science, dairy science, animal nutrition,

biochemistry, and animal diseases.

Exemplify remarkable analysis and documentation expertise, coupled with

effective writing and presentation skills. Show paramount efforts in

researching innovative products. Accustomed to working with people of

diverse cultures and organizational backgrounds. Possess a keen eye for

detail with proven capability to multitask in a competitive and challenging

environment. Bilingual in English and German with working knowledge in

French.

CORE STRENGTHS

Bacterial Isolation, Identification and Gastrointestinal Microbial Ecology and

Taxonomy Resistance

Experimental Planning and Execution Data Collection and Documentation

Time Management and Prioritization General Laboratory Safety Measures

Strong Analytical and Organizational Problem Resolution and Decision-Making

Abilities

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR),

Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture

(USDA) ( Peoria, IL, USA

Research Microbiologist (Post-Doctoral Research Associate) 2011-2013

Directly supervised the selection of specific research areas or topics with

high probability of producing successful results. Provided expert oversight

to all theoretical, experimental, and practical aspects of planning and

conducting research. Performed intensive research, which included method

development and validation. Delivered informative presentation and

publication by methodically analyzing and interpreting research results.

Notable Achievements:

. Gained comprehensive experience in bench-top and anaerobic microbiology

as well as spectrophotometry

. Played a vital role in generating original and hitherto unreported

research results regarding antimicrobial resistance of anaerobic swine

manure bacteria in association with supervisors and other in-house and

outside research scientists

. Served as a representative and spokesperson for the agency at major

international conference in the United States

. Presented original research results for publication of full-length

article in refereed international journal

Institute of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University

Berlin ( Berlin, Germany

Doctoral Student Research Associate 2006-2011

Worked within the research facilities of the institute comprising of

electron microscopy and a wide variety of morphometric, molecular

biological, and in vitro microbiological methods. Conducted a variety of

research activities for the faculty offering unique opportunity to

successfully handle intricate problems in interdisciplinary research groups

using diverse methods.

Notable Achievements:

. Demonstrated expertise in all aspects of bench-top microbiology,

spectrophotometry, electron microscopy and molecular biology [polymerase

chain reaction (PCR), DNA-DNA hybridization, and gene sequencing]

. Exemplified remarkable skills to isolate bacteria of two novel species

from the gastrointestinal tract of a pig

. Administered a state-of-the-art microbiological characterization of those

bacteria for official taxonomic recognition of the novel species

. Commended for the presentation of original research results for

publication of full-length articles in refereed international journals,

as well as in international conference

Student Research Associate 2003-2006

Planned and conducted extensive research experiments, including method

development and validation with the guidance of supervisor. Worked

collaboratively with supervisors and other in-house research scientists to

generate original and hitherto unreported research results regarding pig

nutrition and the intestinal bacteria of pigs.

Notable Achievements:

. Equipped with extensive experience in bench-top microbiology, molecular

biology [PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)]

. Exhibited superior talents in presenting original research results for

publication of full-length article in refereed international journal, in

addition to original research results at domestic conference

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (U. S. Equivalent: Doctor of Philosophy in

Veterinary Medicine)

( Institute of Animal Nutrition, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany:

2006-2011

Graduated summa cum laude

Study of Veterinary Medicine

( Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany: 1999-2006

Certificate of results for the third part of the veterinary medicine

examination and the overall veterinary medicine examination

License to Practice Veterinary Medicine: 2006

Study of German and English Philology

( Free University Berlin and Humboldt University Berlin, Berlin, Germany:

1996-1998

PUBLICATIONS

Original Papers

Kraatz, M., Whitehead, T. R., Cotta, M. A., Berhow, M. A., Rasmussen, M.

Effects of chlorophyll-derived efflux pump inhibitor pheophorbide a and

pyropheophorbide a on erythromycin and tylosin resistance of indicator and

anaerobic swine manure bacteria. Journal of Antibiotics (in preparation).

Kraatz, M., Wallace, R. J., Svensson, L. (2011). Olsenella umbonata sp.

nov., a microaerotolerant anaerobic lactic acid bacterium from the sheep

rumen and pig jejunum, and emended descriptions of Olsenella, Olsenella uli

and Olsenella profusa. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary

Microbiology 61, 795-803.

Kraatz, M., Taras, D. (2008). Veillonella magna sp. nov., isolated from the

jejunal mucosa of a healthy pig, and emended description of Veillonella

ratti. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

58, 2755-2761.

Kraatz, M., Taras, D., M nner, K., Simon, O. (2006). Weaning pig

performance and fecal microbiota with and without in-feed addition of rare

earth elements. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 90, 361-

368.

Book Chapter

Kraatz, M. (2010). Lactobacilli and other lactic acid-related bacteria in

the mucosal proximal gastrointestinal tract of pigs: a review of ecology

for two derivative approaches for isolation of novel species. In Current

Research, Technology and Education Topics in Applied Microbiology and

Microbial Biotechnology, vol. 1, (The Formatex Microbiology Book Series)

pp. 674-686. Edited by A. Mend z-Vilas. Badajoz, Spain: Formatex Research

Center.

Thesis

Kraatz, M. (2011). Isolation of lactic acid-related bacteria from the

mucosal proximal gastrointestinal tract of pigs, including Olsenella

umbonata sp. nov. and Veillonella magna sp. nov. Berlin: Logos Verlag, 193

pages (ISBN 978-3-8325-2789-1).

Conferences

Kraatz, M., Whitehead, T. R., Cotta, M. A., Rasmussen, M. Effects of

chlorophyll-derived efflux pump inhibitor pheophorbide a and

pyropheophorbide a on erythromycin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus,

Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli. Poster

presentation at American Public Health Association 140th Annual Meeting and

Exposition, San Francisco, CA, USA, October 27-31, 2012.

Kraatz, M., Wallace, R. J., Svensson, L., Taras, D. Microecology of

Olsenella umbonata sp. nov. and Veillonella magna sp. nov., two novel

lactic acid-syntrophic bacterial species from the mucosal jejunum of a

healthy pig. Oral presentation at Congress on Gastrointestinal Function

2011, Chicago, IL, USA, April 18-20, 2011.

Kraatz, M. Lactic acid-related bacterial community from the mucosal stomach

and jejunum of a pig, including Olsenella umbonata sp. nov. and Veillonella

magna sp. nov. Poster presentation at 7th Joint Rowett-INRA Symposium, Gut

Microbiology: New Insights into Gut Microbial Ecosystems 2010, Aberdeen,

Scotland, UK, June 23-25, 2010.

Taras, D., Hellweg, P., Kraatz, M., L bke-Becker, A., M nner, K., Zentek,

J., Simon, O. Relevance of dietary benzoic acid for the composition of the

intestinal microbiota of weaned piglets. Oral presentation at International

Conference Sustainable Animal Health through Eubiosis - Relevance for Man,

Ascona, Switzerland, October 8-13, 2006.

Taras, D., M nner, K., Kraatz, M., L bke-Becker, A., Simon O. Impact of

benzoic acid on early weaned piglets. Oral presentation at 10th Symposium

Vitamins and Supplements, Jena, Germany, September 28-29, 2005.

Kraatz, M., Taras, D., M nner, K., Simon, O. A study of the effectiveness

of rare earth elements in piglets. Oral presentation at 8th Conference on

Pig and Poultry Nutrition, Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany, November 23-25,

2004.

Reviewer activities

Ad hoc reviewer International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary

Microbiology: 2009-Present

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

American Public Health Association (APHA): since 2012

Ernst Reuter Association of Friends, Supporters, and Alumni of Free

University Berlin: since 2011

German Society for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM): since 2007

Compulsory Member, Berlin Chamber of Veterinarians and German Federal

Chamber of Veterinarians

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS) Young Scientist

Meeting Grant for 7th Joint Rowett-INRA Symposium, Gut Microbiology: New

Insights into Gut Microbial Ecosystems: 2010

Doctoral Fellowship according to the Berlin Law for the Promotion of Young

Scientists (Nachwuchsf rderungsgesetz, NaF G): 2006-2009

Award of the H. Wilhelm Schaumann Foundation for Best Student Performances

in Animal Nutrition at German-speaking Colleges and Universities: 2005

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY

Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook Photoshop,

SmartDraw, and PosterGenius

Various scientific programs and webpages: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics

Analysis (MEGA) software, PHYLIP software package, online Ribosomal

Database Project and NCBI's Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)

PCO's CamWare software, Raytest's PCBAS software, Nonlinear Dynamics'

phoretixTM 1D software

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