KARLA D. PASSALACQUA, Ph.D.

313-***-**** *** Charles St., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 l aceu8a@r.postjobfree.com

l

Research Scientist and Science Communicator/Educator who employs creative and interactive

methods to convey a wide range of topics to many different audiences / specialization in lively and

engaged delivery and curriculum material development to promote clarity of understanding. Expert

skills include microbiological and genomic research, scientific writing, science curriculum development

and various public health tools & methods.

Core Competencies

Analytical & conceptual thinking Creative & technical communication

Skilled & lively presentations Cooperative & flexible team work

EXPERIENCE

Emory University Atlanta, GA 2009 to 2014

• Emory College Department of Biology – LECTURE TRACK FACULTY LECTURER OF BIOLOGY

Lecturer for large, diverse undergraduate courses in Introductory Biology, Biochemistry and

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graduate courses in Microbial Genetics

Wrote and developed a series of original case studies used in Introductory Biology

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Member of University Curriculum Committee setting policy and making decisions about

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College courses and policies

Academic advisor, faculty search committee member and undergraduate research honors thesis

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committee member

Winner of the Crystal Apple Teaching Award for Large Undergraduate Classroom - 2012

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Faculty participant in the Emory Tibet Science Initiative teaching Tibetan Buddhist monks and

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nuns in India and developing original educational materials for the program (2012 & 2014)

• School of Medicine Division of Infectious Diseases – POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

Performed research exploring the genetic basis of intermediate vancomycin resistance in the

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pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus

Used a variety of next-generation sequencing and high-throughput technologies including

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RNAseq, RT-PCR and whole genome sequencing

Published peer reviewed scientific articles and assisted with grant writing

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PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERIENCE at the Emory Rollins School of Public Health

PUBLIC HEALTH COURSEWORK IN PREVENTION SCIENCE (courses taken since 2011)

• Coursework: Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Program Evaluation, Questionnaire Design & Analysis,

Community Needs Assessment, Public Health Communications, Non-Profit Management, etc.

• Wrote and presented a variety of public health related projects including:

(i) design of interventions for hypertension using an ecological approach and behavioral theory;

(ii) a community needs assessment for Shelby County, TN;

(iii) a communication strategy for combating depression in older adults;

(iv) design of an informatics approach for tracking plastics waste in research;

(v) an evaluation plan for Partners in Action for Healthy Living, Inc.;

(vi) overview of the global health problem of invasive fungal disease; and

(vii) cost effectiveness of screening for Chlamydial infection in US federal prisons.

(viii) questionnaire written and implemented to probe student behaviors around diabetes

prevention

(ix) organizational evaluation of the nonprofit Elachee Nature Science Center

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Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA 2007 - 2009

• Department of Biology – POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER

Performed research exploring the genetic basis of gene expression in a variety of Bacillus species

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using next-generation sequencing technologies and basic microbiological techniques

Presented findings at international conference in San Diego, CA in 2008

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Coordinated with computer science students to develop new algorithms for gene expression

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analysis

Published peer reviewed scientific articles and assisted with grant writing

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Reading and Language Arts Centers, Inc. Bloomfield Hills, MI 1993 - 1999

• READING TUTOR AND TUTOR/TEACHER TRAINER

Tutored young children and adults in reading and reading comprehension using the Orton-

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Gillingham (OG) method of teaching

Trained small (5-10) and large (80-100) groups of tutors and teachers in OG Method

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EDUCATION

University of Michigan - Medical School Ann Arbor, MI 2002-2007

Ph.D. – Microbiology & Immunology

• Microbiologist performing research on the physiology and functional genomics of Bacillus anthracis

• Participated in Cellular Biotechnology Training Program (National Institutes of Health funded) –

yearly symposia, coursework in biotechnology and research presentations

Wayne State University – Department of Art & Art History Detroit, MI

Master of Arts in Painting 1994

Bachelor of Arts in Drawing (minor in Art History) 1989

ADDITIONAL

Author of numerous published research articles in a range of scientific journals:

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Passalacqua_Google_Scholar_Page

Presented work as oral presentations and in poster format at multiple national and international

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scientific conferences and university seminars (San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Oslo, Norway)

Proficient in use of basic SAS statistical programming, CLC Genomics Workbench, all Office

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applications and EpiInfo

Peer reviewer for various scientific manuscripts; Accuracy and technical reviews for Biology

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textbooks (various publishers); Beta-testing of Biology textbook chapters (Freeman Press);

Technical reviewer for the Maryland Industrial Partnerships.

Guest Panel Speaker for Emory Bioethics Society – “Human Genetic Modification” and “Water

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Quality”

Volunteer judge for Intel International Science Fair – Microbiology Division (2008)

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WRITING SAMPLES, FULL SCIENTIFIC CURRICULUM VITAE AND REFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION

PROVIDED UPON REQUEST

Passalacqua, KD: Page 2 of 2

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