Assistant Research
Resume:
Sarah J. Pfeffer
*** * ******* ***** ******, Texas 78745
Cell: 512-***-**** Home: 512-***-****
*********@****.******.***
Education and Related Coursework
Bachelor of Science, Biology
University of Texas, Austin, TX
Option: Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
Graduated May 2008
University of Texas, San Antonio, TX
Option: Ecology
Transferred to UT Austin Fall 2004
Bachelor of Science, Journalism
Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Option: Electronic Media Studies
Graduated May 1995
Began a new degree program in Biology in 2000 and transferred to UTSA in 2002
Related Coursework
BIO 325 Genetics, BIO 325L Genetics lab, BIO 320 Cell Biology, BIO 323L Cell Biology Lab,
BIO 318M Biostatistics, BIO 373 Ecology, BIO 370 Evolution, BIO 453L Entomology, BIO 365R
Vertebrate Physiology I, & BIO 377 Microbiology Undergraduate Research
Honors and Awards
Dean’s List: Fall 2002 & Spring 2003
Member Beta Beta Beta Honor Society
Award for Excellence in Foreign Language Fall 2002: Spanish
Research Experience
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JANUARY 2010 – PRESENT RESEARCH, DR. R. MALCOLM BROWN JR. PHD LAB,
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND MICROBIOLOGY
SECTION OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN. COORDINATE
AND TRAIN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS FOR THE
R. M. BROWN BIOFUELS INITIATIVE. RESEARCH
ADVISOR: DR. R. MALCOLM BROWN JR., PHD.
JUNE 2009 – PRESENT RESEARCH, DR. R. MALCOLM BROWN JR. PHD LAB,
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND MICROBIOLOGY
SECTION OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN.
INVESTIGATIONS INTO CYANOBACTERIA AND
THEIR USE AS A SOURCE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY.
RESEARCH ADVISOR: DR. DAVID NOBLES.
SEPTEMBER 2008 – JUNE 2009 RESEARCH, DR. R. MALCOLM BROWN JR. PHD LAB,
MOLECULAR GENETICS AND MICROBIOLOGY
SECTION OF THE COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN. STUDIES ON
THE GROWTH AND MANIPULATIONS OF,
ACETOBACTER, A CELLULOSE PRODUCING
ORGANISM. RESEARCH ADVISOR: DR. R. MALCOLM
BROWN JR., PHD.
JANUARY 2008 – SEPTEMBER 2008 UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH, DR. R.
MALCOLM BROWN JR. PHD LAB, MOLECULAR
GENETICS AND MICROBIOLOGY SECTION OF THE
COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF TEXAS AUSTIN. CONSTRUCTION OF A
TRANSGENIC CYANOBACTERIUM FOR THE
PURPOSE OF STUDYING THEIR CELLULOSE
PRODUCING GENE SEQUENCE. RESEARCH ADVISOR:
DR. DAVID NOBLES.
Research Techniques
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DNA extraction, PCR amplification, gel electrophoresis, PCR
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purification, gel purification, crystal violet gel electrophoresis, cloning (digestion,
ligation and transformation), DNA concentration, direct-plate conjugation, RNA
isolation, sugar analysis (glucose & sucrose assays), chlorophyll & carotenoid
analysis, cyanobacterial cell culture from storage stocks to mass culture, field
work in cyanobacterial scaleup for feedstock production, Acetobacter culture for
microbial cellulose production including, media preparation, stock solution
preparations, lab scaleup of microbial cellulose, harvesting and cleaning of
microbial cellulose for various applications.
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Technical Proficiency
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Various types of light microscopy including brightfield, darkfield, phase
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contrast, polarization, Nomarski interference, and fluorescence microscopy;
transmission electron microscopy including, negative staining, fixation and
ultrathin sectioning; scanning electron microscopy, including critical point drying
and Cryo-SEM. Other proficiencies include time lapse analysis, mass
spectroscopy, NanoDrop, DTX 880 and SpectraMax3 plate reader analysis,
specialized lab scale quantitative cell growth and product analysis (FMT 150
Photobioreactor set up & operation), various software packages including
Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Image J, R Statistical Software, BLAST,
EMBL-Bank, GenBank, Primer3 Input, NetPrimer and SignalP 3.0.
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Experience in Training Lab Personnel
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Designed experiments, wrote protocols, and trained undergraduates in
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techniques related to cyanobacterial and microbial cellulose projects. Students
were trained to use the DTX880 and SpectraMax3 plate readers, mass
spectrometer, and Zeiss light microscope as well as training in the preparation of
media, culturing of the organism, and the proper aseptic techniques. Tests
included time lapse microscopy, sucrose assays, optical density readings and
chlorophyll analysis. All of the data was recorded and then organized into written
lab reports.
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Presentations
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Pfeffer, S: “Cyanobacteria: Possible Source for Modern Renewable
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Energy” Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Lab Seminar (Fall 2009)
Pfeffer, S: “Manipulation of Cellulose Producing Bacteria” Dr. R.
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Malcolm Brown Jr. Lab Meeting (Spring 2009)
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Employment History
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Scientist I, Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology in the
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College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas Austin 512-***-****, Austin,
Texas (October 2010 – current)
Research Assistant II, Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology
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in the College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas Austin 512-***-****,
Austin, Texas (June 2008 – October 2010)
Sous Chef, Green Pastures Restaurant, 512-***-****, Austin, Texas
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(November 1996 – September 2008)
Production Assistant, Access Video and Photo, Austin, Texas (October
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1995 – November 1996)
Cook, The Broiler Restaurant, 515-***-****, Ames, Iowa (September
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1992 – October 1995)
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References Available Upon Request
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