Research Assistant

Brent Zeyus Valdez

********@********.*** 209-***-**** Merced, CA (Open to Remote/Relocation)

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-zeyus-valdez

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology at University of California, Merced Expected May 2024

• Overall GPA: 3.88

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Undergraduate Research Assistant Sept 2021 - present Research Project: Evolution and Marine Symbiosis.

Advisor: Dr. Michele K Nishiguchi, Nishiguchi Laboratory at UC Merced

• Conducted statistical analysis of developed biofilms through GraphPad Prism and ANOVA testing.

• Led an evolutionary experiment to observe temperature stress through different squid isolates.

• GraphPad/Prism9 statistics, R, reliance on controlled temperature chamber, aseptic technique Student Researcher June 2019 - Aug 2019

Lawrence Livermore National - Livermore, CA

• Examined five DNA sequences of the plant species Duckweed by applying the bioinformatics algorithm: BLAST. o Bioinformatics algorithm: BLAST, aseptic techniques, miniprep, PCR,

• Published five cDNA analyses of the plant species Landoltia Punctata on NCBI database. Primary Investigator- Waksman Student Scholars Program (WSSP) Aug 2018 - July 2020 Tracy High School - Tracy, CA

• Facilitated a research program, instructed thirty students through interactive lectures and hands-on labs.

• Created a foundation for wet-lab techniques: PCR, miniprep, serial dilutions, aseptic techniques.

• Interpreted three DNA sequences of the plant species Duckweed using BLAST.

• Analyzed and reviewed the searches of DNA sequencing. PRESENTATIONS

Temperature Stress to Different Squid Isolates to Simulate Global Warming Jan 2024 Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology 2024

• Currently developing protocols for various laboratory techniques.

• Proficient in multiple languages (R and GraphPad) essential for analyzing and organizing computational data.

• Collaborating with the team to ensure smooth execution of experiments. Protozoan Grazing on Evolved Vibrio Biofilms Jan 2023 Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology 2023

• Enhanced presentation and public speaking skills through enthusiasm and relatability.

• Conduced computational interpretation between two various Vibrio strains to protozoans. Evolution and Marine Symbiosis on Hawaiian Bobtail Squids Aug 2022 Undergraduate Research Opportunity Center – University of California, Merced

• Conducted a comparative analysis between two different strains of squid bacteria placed under grazing pressures to examine the symbiont responses.

• Quantified cells given through a time constraint represented as generations.

• Examined the growth rate and evolutionary lineage between each strain. TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Languages: GraphPad, R

• Bioinformatics: BLAST

• Laboratory Techniques: PCR, Aseptic Techniques, Serial Dilutions, Miniprep, Gel Electrophoresis, Antibiotic Screening

FELLOWSHIP

• NIH Undergraduate Research-Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (URISE @ UC Merced) June 2022 - present

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